I am an independently licensed therapist (Licensed Clinical Social Worker/LCSW), specializing in mental health assessment, psychotherapy, and wellness. I have a strong passion for my work and am motivated and inspired by the perseverance and honesty of my clients. Clients I have worked with in the past have described me as committed, skilled, and professional in my work as well as possessing a presence and way of relating that is warm and genuine.

I’ve worked with a wide diversity of people and have experience in numerous mental health and social service settings: employee assistance programs (EAP), residential facilities for severely mentally ill adults, clinical research/treatment with substance abuse, military/veterans & traumatic experiences, youth crisis services, HIV/AIDS service organizations, and community health centers to name a few.

As a Social Worker, I am also committed to organizational, community, and system-wide advocacy and activism efforts to help attain social justice in general and more specifically, optimal client outcomes. I regularly engage in available professional development and continuing education courses, seminars, and other opportunities that will benefit my practice and clients.

I am an active member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, and the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science.

Education:

• Master of Social Work (MSW), Mental Health Concentration of Study- George Warren Brown School of Social Work @ Washington University in St. Louis
• Bachelor of Arts (BA), Psychology- Saint Louis University

Treatment Information

Populations Treated:

I have experience treating a diverse range of people varying in age, gender, race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, socioeconomic status, presenting issues, and sexual orientations and, as such, can work effectively and comfortably with a range of clientele. I currently focus my work with:

• Individuals & Couples
• Adolescents
• Adults

Issues Treated:

I have experience successfully assisting people with a wide range of concerns and issues, including the following:

• Gay-Lesbian-Bisexual Related Issues (LGBT)
• Gender Identity/ Transgender Concerns
• HIV/AIDS Related Issues / Chronic Disease/Health/ Pain Related Issues
• Life Changes, Adjustments, and Transitions
• Grief and Loss Issues
• Depression
• Bipolar Disorder
• Anxiety Disorders (General, Panic, Social Anxiety)
• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) / Trauma
• Substance Abuse
• Relationship Concerns/ Conflicts
• Body Image / Eating Disorder Concerns
• Stress Management
• Health Behavior Change (e.g. smoking cessation, weight control)

Treatment Methods

My approach to therapy is collaborative and guided by the needs of the client.  I have extensive training and most commonly utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy(CBT)approaches in my work.
As appropriate, I also utilize the following approaches :

• Acceptance and Commitment (ACT) Therapy
• Motivational Interviewing
• Mindfulness- Incorporated Therapy Approaches
• Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

I am a licensed clinical psychologist, specializing in psychotherapy and diagnostic assessment.

I am committed to providing the utmost quality care and have a sincere interest in helping clients build the skills to help them live a full, rewarding, and values-driven life.

I believe growth occurs when we are present, mindful, genuine, and willing to engage in meaningful, yet potentially difficult work.

Education

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) – The Chicago School of Professional Psychology; APA-Accredited Program
• Master of Arts (M.A.) – The Chicago School of Professional Psychology; APA-Accredited Program
• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology – University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana

Treatment Information

Populations Treated:
I have experience working with a variety of populations and have a sincere interest in providing culturally competent care to a diverse set of clients.  Populations primarily treated in my practice are:

• Adults- Individuals & Couples
• Older Adults
• Adolescents

Issues Treated:

I have worked with complex clinical presentations and have specialty training in treating trauma ranging from childhood abuse, sexual abuse/assault, interpersonal violence, and military-related trauma (MST, combat-related, noncombat-related). I am interested in, and have successful experience in treating:

• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Anxiety Disorders
• Depression
• Interpersonal/relationship-related issues
• Bipolar Disorder and other mood disorders
• Adjustment difficulties/life changes
• LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender)-related issues
• Health-related difficulties/adjustments
• Pain Management
• Severe/chronic mental illness
• Eating Disorders
• Grief and Loss
• Health Behavior Change (e.g. smoking cessation, weight control)
• Stress Management
• Substance Abuse

Treatment Methods:

I feel ethically inclined to provide treatment that has been researched and proven to be effective with specific presenting concerns; however, I pride myself on individualizing care and collaborating with clients to devise a treatment plan and approach that fits with their specific needs and goals. I am competent in providing various psychotherapy approaches to meet the broad needs of a diverse clientele. Specific treatment modalities offered include, but are not limited to:

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
• Prolonged Exposure (PE)
• Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation (STAIR)
• Mindfulness-based approaches
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills-based approaches
• Insight-oriented, supportive psychotherapy approaches
• Motivational Interviewing