Background and THERapy approach
I received my BA in Psychology from Wesleyan University, and my Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Fordham University. I have trained and practiced in a variety of settings with diverse clients and clinical concerns. (See Services for specialty areas.)
I work with folks mainly in their 20s-40s, with diverse experiences and in a wide range of life stages. I also have several years of experience in university counseling centers, and enjoy working with undergraduate, graduate, and law students, as well as people navigating transitions into or out of school.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are major priorities in my work, and I am trained in and engaged in ongoing learning to provide culturally-responsive services. To the extent you want to focus on these areas, I’m interested in understanding how your race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, dis/ability, class, nationality, and other identities have shaped your life. I aim to foster the safety it takes to explore experiences you may have had with oppression and marginalization, as well as ways in which your identities enrich and fulfill you. I also embrace cultural humility, and believe that my continuous process of self-reflection (including around my own identities, blind spots, and hidden biases) is an essential part of therapeutic work.
I like to get to know you as a whole person, together developing a nuanced understanding of your current concerns, history, identities, strengths, and struggles. I am interested in exploring how your unique experiences have shaped your sense of self, others, and the world. I also focus on helping you develop a more authentic, integrated, and honest self. I believe that the less energy we spend trying to deny, hide, avoid, or change painful aspects of ourselves and our experiences, the more energy we have to pursue what brings meaning and fulfillment to our lives.
The core of my theoretical orientation is relational psychodynamic, which means that I use what happens in the space between us to understand patterns that occur for you in outside relationships.
I am also interested in exploring how early experiences have shaped your life, and in helping to uncover and understand your more hidden or unconscious wishes, fears, and motivations. Unlike a more traditional "blank-screen" presence, I offer a balance between providing open space and providing feedback and interaction. I see therapy as a collaborative effort, and know that this challenging work is not productive without you feeling safe, valued, and heard.
EXPERIENCE AND CLINICAL TRAINING
Fordham University, Counseling and Psychological Services, Supervising Psychologist
Pace University Counseling Center, APA-Accredited Predoctoral Intern
National Institute for the Psychotherapies
Kingsboro Psychiatric Center
Bellevue Hospital, Psycho-Oncology and Palliative Care
Psychological Services Institute, Fordham University