I am a therapist who approaches every individual, teen, child, couple, and family as a whole person or set of people rather than a specific grouping of symptoms, diagnoses, or thoughts. With a master’s degree from New York University, I focused on nursing early in my studies out of a desire to help others. I transitioned to pursue psychotherapy to satisfy that drive while also having an appreciation for the complexity and messiness inherent in being human. Because of this, I refuse to practice therapy as a one-size-fits-all process. Every person is an amalgamation of their past and present experiences and I support patients to fully feel and work through both in order to understand themselves more deeply and move forward in healthier ways.
Life transitions, whether a marriage, a new baby, or a new job, can bring up a variety of thoughts, questions, and feelings, including a mix of grief, loneliness, and excitement. I previously helped college students who were struggling with anxiety and depression during what could be considered “positive” transitions such as graduation. People can often feel alone with their ambivalence in these moments due to the pressure to only be happy about new beginnings. I encourage individuals, couples, and families to grieve the loss of the identities that they are leaving behind, process change, and celebrate both the old and new parts of their lives.
Formerly providing crisis intervention with adults with severe mental illness at New York Presbyterian Westchester Behavioral Health, I understand the value of the intimate relationship between a therapist and patient, especially during some of the most difficult and vulnerable times in a person’s life. When built with trust and care, this relationship provides an opportunity for individuals to safely navigate challenging emotions so that they can be confident in their ability to handle these feelings in other relationships in their lives. I believe conflict, although uncomfortable, is at the heart of therapy and have found that often what seems like a roadblock can prove to be the most therapeutic and encouraging for growth.
While working with individuals in crisis, I also, when possible, facilitated family sessions. Each family has circumstances unique to their collective history and the experiences of each person within the family system. I am passionate about helping each family member come to understand how their family dynamic operates and their role in it. This can sometimes be a painful process, but it can also be a transformative one that can construct a newfound sense of closeness and connection for a family.
I am passionate about social justice’s role in therapy. At NYU, I received the Racial Equity Scholarship due to my work on research aiming to further comprehend and create change in perinatal care for women of color. Driven by the disparities in the maternal mortality rate, I helped bridge providers of BIPOC perinatal care and women who felt a lack of autonomy or silenced within the healthcare system. This experience deeply shaped who I am as a therapist, in particular my understanding of the differences in how people experience care. I remain curious about these differences and therefore, don’t shy away from having honest conversations about power, privilege, race, sexuality, gender, and other topics.
Pronouns: she/her (read more about why I list my pronouns here)