Overview

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Through 25 years of work in university, hospital and outpatient settings, I have developed specializations in:

• Trauma & Abuse - Trained by a pioneer in the treatment of complex trauma, I work with adults who have PTSD and dissociative disorders, helping them heal from childhood sexual, physical and emotional abuse and neglect.
• Sexual/Relationship Violence - Drawing upon expertise and empathy gained as a victim advocate, I assist survivors of assault, stalking and harassment regain their sense of security and self.
• Mindful Living & Eating - I help individuals, couples and groups manage stress, anxiety and depression; navigate major life events and losses; repair or strengthen their relationships; and develop more self-accepting approaches to food and their bodies.
• The College Experience - My varied roles as a university counselor, instructor, advisor and administrator provide me with a unique perspective from which to support young adults, non-traditional students, and their parents as they deal with opportunities and crises pre-admission to post-graduation.
• Career & Life Development - My past research informs my continuing passion for mentoring women and men in their multiple roles and across their lifespans.

My style is warm and accepting. I encourage gentle humor and perspective. I will work creatively and collaboratively with you to strengthen your resources for meeting current challenges and to free you from unproductive patterns.

With the therapy relationship as the foundation and guide for our work, I draw upon my training in a broad array of treatment interventions, including cognitive-behavioral tools, mindfulness, sensorimotor (mind-body) awareness, prolonged exposure and hypnosis.

I value gender, sexual, racial, class, disability and religious/spiritual identity.

I am in Chevy Chase, 1.5 blocks from the Friendship Heights metro.

My therapy approach is to meet you where you are, in whatever moment in your life, tailoring therapy interventions to your needs and strengths, and working collaboratively and creatively with you to help you regain—or find for the first time--your emotional balance and a sense of empowerment and fulfillment in your personal and work life. 

My style is warm and accepting. I enjoy using gentle humor with clients, believing that humility and the capacity not to take ourselves so seriously is as important to healing as learning to lean into the vulnerable things from our past and present that we’d rather avoid. 

Our ability to connect as therapist and client may be immediate, or it may take some time, but research suggests that it will be foundational to whether or not therapy works for you. For this reason, it’s important that you feel like we can be a good fit. 

Here is some information about what it’s like to be in therapy with me. 

First and foremost, I will listen to you—all of you. I will not judge you. I will provide a space for you to say the awkward, the uncomfortable, the unspeakable things. I will not just nod my head and say mmm-hmm. I will respect your right to make decisions about your own life, but I also will engage you in a dialogue about what’s working and not working for you, and I will encourage you to consider a different approach if I think that might be helpful. 

My approach to thinking about client problems incorporates an appreciation of many influences that shape us:

• family history and attachment styles (Did you learn to trust that others will be there for you? Was an important caregiver absent or abusive? How connected do you feel to other people?)
• interpersonal patterns (Do you find that you repeatedly run into the same frustrations interpersonally? Are you generally happy with your relationships but wanting to deepen your connections with others? Are you an introvert trying to live in a extroverted world? Are you able to ask for and get what you need and want?)
• personality
• cognitive styles
• broader systemic influences such as gender and sexual identity, race, culture, socioeconomic class, and disability status

I use a range of therapeutic interventions including empathic support, emotion-regulation strategies, mindfulness practice, cognitive-behavioral tools for reducing problematic thought and behavioral patterns, hypnosis, interpersonal process (awareness of what’s happening between us in the therapy relationship; attention to power dynamics in your relationships), sensorimotor awareness (mind-body connections), metaphor, education, and resilience-building. When relevant or helpful for clients, I also welcome the discussion of religious and/or spiritual beliefs in therapy.

I have 14 years of clinical experience and 25 years of experience in higher education. Prior to my graduate work, I worked for 11 years in higher education as the coordinator and assistant director of a university honors program.
 

My career and clinical experiences have provided me with the opportunity to work with a diverse group of clients with respect to gender, race/ethnicity, sexual identity and orientation, disability, and religious/spiritual identity.  They also have exposed me to a broad range of normal developmental and serious mental health concerns.  In addition, my work and educational experiences have contributed to my deep appreciation for personal narratives, interdisciplinary perspectives, the resilience of individuals and families in the face of great adversity, and the importance of support and mentoring in meeting one's personal and career goals.
 

Degree & Research
I earned my Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology in May, 2008 from the University of Maryland.  My master's thesis focused on women's career development: finding meaning and balance in multiple roles and the importance of career mentoring. My dissertation research on the psychological and academic impacts of cyberstalking was inspired by my experiences working for three years as the University of Maryland’s first Victim Advocate, where I assisted survivors of sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, and sexual harassment.
 

Clinical Training
My doctoral clinical training included both excellent generalist training and a specialization in trauma.  I have worked in university counseling center and mental health unit settings at the University of Maryland and Towson University, House of Ruth domestic violence shelter, and the Center for Posttraumatic Disorders at the Psychiatric Institute of Washington.

Post-Graduate Employment
Following my graduate studies, I worked for five years as an associate in the practice of Christine A. Courtois, Ph.D., an internationally-recognized expert in posttraumatic stress, complex trauma, and dissociative disorders.

I also worked as a staff psychologist for over five years at Towson University’s Counseling Center, where I coordinated the group psychotherapy program; conducted outreach programming; consulted with faculty, staff, and parents; and provided individual and couples counseling to university undergraduate and graduate students.
 

Select Awards/Accomplishments
~ Hats Off! Achievement Award, Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault
~ Outstanding Faculty & Staff Award, Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority
~ Hyde Graduate Student Research Grant, American Psychological Association

First Contact
 

Prior to our first meeting, it is often helpful to speak briefly on the phone in order for me to get a sense of what your needs are. We can also discuss schedules to find a mutually convenient time to schedule our first session.
 

Initial Sessions
 

I see the first few sessions as an initial consultation for both of us. I would encourage you to see this as a time with no strings attached, and an opportunity to learn more about me to see if you feel comfortable working with me. It is very important that you feel comfortable with the therapist you choose.
 

After the first few sessions, we will decide whether working together is the best approach, given your goals and comfort level with me. If we decide to work together, we will schedule regular psychotherapy sessions. If not, I can offer you referrals to providers in the community who may better fit your needs.
 

Therapy is like any other relationship between people: it takes work and open communication. I will check in with you about how things are going so that we remain on the same page about your goals and desires for the therapy relationship.
 

Scheduling Appointments
 

I schedule my appointments to last 50 minutes.

 Trauma-Centered Psychotherapy Group

• 6-month process group to promote insight into how past traumatic experiences contribute to present-day      problems with work, love, communication, and connection to self and others.
• Open to higher-functioning survivors of single and multiple traumas (e.g., childhood abuse and neglect, sexual violence, medical trauma, traumatic      loss, war and military violence exposure, relationship violence/stalking).
• Emphasizing a foundation of safety, stabilization, self-care, and stress-reduction skills.

Grief & Loss Workshop Series & Support Group

• Grieving is a natural process, and individuals experience grief and loss in different ways and  on different time tables.
• It can be helpful to share your experience with others who have been affected by the death of a significant person.
• Each session in this 6-week workshop series/support group includes discussion of a particular topic (e.g., facts/myths about grieving, frustration with a lack of understanding/social support from others, changing life roles after a death, cultural and spiritual aspects of grief, traumatic grief), a coping strategy, and sharing of resources.
• Time will be based on members’ availability.

Fees and Payment

Clients pay me directly. I accept credit cards (Visa, MasterCard and Discover), check, and cash.

I am happy to discuss my fee structure with you. 

Insurance

I am an “out-of-network” provider. I will work directly and confidentially with you to define your goals and to assess your progress. I do not participate in any insurance networks because I feel strongly that third-parties should not dictate the nature and duration of your therapy.

If your health insurance company offers out-of-network benefits, you should receive some reimbursement for the cost of my services. Most of my clients who receive reimbursement find that their insurance covers 50%-75% of their session costs. In some instances, clients’ total cost per session is close to what they would be paying for a co-payment to an in-network provider.

I know that understanding insurance coverage and the reimbursement process can be challenging.  I am happy to help guide you through this process.

Financial Assistance
I appreciate that therapy can represent a significant financial investment for some individuals and couples.  I am committed to offering a number of sliding scale appointment slots.

I see clients at my office in Chevy Chase/Friendship Heights:

5100 Wisconsin Avenue
Suite 300
Washington, DC  20016

The office building is above a neighborhood landmark (Rodman's grocery store). 

By Metro/Bus:  The office is located 1 ½ blocks south of the Friendship Heights Metro Station (Red Line).  

By Car:  Free two-hour street parking is available on Garrison Street and other nearby streets.  Parking also is available in the lot behind the building (accessible off of Garrison Street); you can validate your parking and receive a discount through Rodman's grocery store).