A strong therapeutic alliance is a transformative vehicle that can facilitate both healing and growth.  What I strive to do with my clients is create a warm and accepting environment that will hold them as they go through the process of change.  The process of self-awareness and growth can be challenging at times (that is how you know you are doing the work!) but you won’t be doing it alone.  Together we will approach the pain and the challenges in living that one faces throughout the lifespan.  Together we will learn the benefits of approaching life’s issues rather than retreating.  Together we will find new perspectives that will help us to see the big picture and find root causes. 

I take an integrative therapeutic approach that pulls from person-centered therapy, psychodynamic interpersonal therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, solution-focused therapy, existential therapy, and humanistic therapy.  My main focus, however, is on creating a strong therapeutic relationship forged on genuineness between myself and the client.  

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In this type of therapeutic environment, the client holds the power to create change in their lives while the therapist helps to guide and accompany the client through each part of the process.  I believe we all have the capacity to move forward, make changes, become empowered, and ultimately attain wellness.  Yoga, mindfulness, and spirituality are special interests of mine.

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I am a proud graduate of the heavily psychodynamic-focused mental health counseling graduate program at the State University of New York at Old Westbury College.  Although overwhelmingly educated on psychoanalytic theory and psychodynamic counseling, I was imbued with a therapeutic pluralism that allows me to take a unique and tailored approach to each individual client's needs.  With such tailoring comes a natural vacillation in my approach; at times I will take a minimally directive role and at other times a more directive role with the client when processing life's challenges.  Present throughout, however, is an extremely empathic approach and facilitating environment that holds each client securely within the boundaries of our sessions.

Before beginning this Master’s program, I spent the better part of the last decade living in Peru, Costa Rica, and Panama working for non-profits both abroad and in New York that focused on holistic wellness and peace. I am a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer and hold a previous Master’s degree in Environmental Studies from the State University of New York at The College of Environmental Science and Forestry and Syracuse University.  I am also a certified Yoga instructor and passionate practitioner.