About
This is where I try to give you a sense of how it could feel to work with me.
The therapeutic relationship is one of the most important indicators of a successful course of therapy. Here is a little bit about my practice and me to help you get to know me.
A good therapeutic fit can feel different to each person, but in the most simple sense: a good fit is having a general feeling of liking the person you are working with, feeling heard, understood, and feeling able to communicate honestly and openly. Sometimes this happens quickly, and sometimes this happens over time.
About my practice
(The formal stuff)
Psychotherapy unlocks a deeper level of self-understanding. This directly influences the way we feel and the choices we make. Done well, it is a tool that can help us gain clarity, understand choices better, and reach our full potential.
My approach aims to help you build coping skills, ease discomfort, and find solutions while on the path toward greater understanding of your goals and how to achieve them.
I take a holistic perspective: I consider the person, their soul, and their environment. To feel better it is important to consider our physical health and habits, energy levels, and the environmental context we live in as well as our relationship with ourselves and others.
My client experience is extensive and diverse including individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, life transitions, and the effects of traumatic experiences. My clients come from all walks of life and vary widely by age, background, and lived experience.
Establishing a strong therapeutic relationship grounded in support, compassion, and cultural awareness is paramount to me. That foundation is essential to reach deeper understanding and to facilitate change, growth and healing.
My work is informed by relational psychotherapy, attachment theory, Jungian analysis, mindfulness practices, and cognitive-behavioral therapies such as ACT, CBT, TF-CBT, as well as continued work with mentors/supervisors who help me become a better therapist.
I received my Master's Degree in Clinical Social Work from The Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College with a specialization in Child Trauma Therapy from the National Child Trauma Workforce Institute (NCTWI) in New York City.
All sessions are held online.
Fee
$300 per 45 minute session.
I started out my therapy career as a trauma specialist working with children and their families. This means that nothing shocks me, I can handle big feelings and issues, I have lots of experience with relational dynamics, I know the importance of emotional regulation (aka managing feelings), and I’m not afraid of going deep (and dark). It also means I have worked with people ages 5 to 85, which has given me well rounded training.
I am a very active therapist. I’ve been told “I tell it as it is”. Many of my clients have been referred to me for this purpose. They came looking for someone they feel they can interact with and can give them tools to work on between sessions. I believe therapy is about teamwork. I am passionate about clients who are motivated and driven and who are willing and able to show up and put in the time and work.
I ask a lot of questions (sometimes challenging ones). I suggest practices and tools to help you figure out what works best for you and to find ways we can build momentum for change. I make space for big feelings, so you too can learn to tolerate and understand your emotions, while also providing tools to learn to respond in more effective ways. I enjoy laughing. Humor is an important part of our attitude and promotes positive outcomes in life. Hopefully you will want to laugh with me too.
I love my job. I feel lucky and grateful I get to do this for a living and I take your desire to change, feel better, and your goals very seriously. When I’m not working with clients, I make time to continue learning and developing skills. In my personal life I make time for rest, healthy habits, and activities I enjoy so I can show up for my clients feeling my best.
I have lived in different places and come from a mixed cultural background. This has given me the gift of an open mind and an understanding of what it’s like to feel different. It also allows me to gain quick perspective on social norms and question them instead of believing them as a rule.
Before I was a therapist I worked in marketing, communications, and graphic design. I have had another life before I became a therapist and I understand how difficult it is to pivot to a new career. I decided to make the change because I was in search for work that felt more meaningful. Luckily, I found it!
I’m a dabbler. I love trying new things and it has provided me with wide range of experiences. I know what it is like being new at something (and sucking at it) and it has taught me that if I try hard enough, with hard work and consistency, I can get better at anything.
I’m a middle child. For me that meant playing the role of the mediator. (Full disclosure: this is probably one of the biggest reasons I became a therapist.) What are the skills of a mediator? The ability to see things objectively, to understand what others are feeling, and to facilitate communication and understanding in relationships.
I am passionate about helping you feel better. I really believe in seeing a moment of struggle as an opportunity for growth. I’m interested in you gaining a deeper and stronger connection to yourself and your life. My job is to be on your team, to he help increase your well-being, and I do that with care and love.
Thank you for reading all this. I provide a 15 minute free consultation so we can meet and see if it feels like a good fit. You can also check out my Zocdoc profile to see what others have said about their experience working with me.