Areas of Expertise
Anxiety and Depression
Life is complicated and unpredictable. It is normal to have passing periods of worry or sadness. But sometimes our internal experiences are so painful, they prevent us from fully engaging in our lives and relationships. Therapy can help you learn to hold with care and confidence all your thoughts, feelings and memories while moving through life in a meaningful way. I use a variety of approaches to help my clients manage their worry and sadness, including CBT, ACT, mindfulness practice, relaxation, and narrative therapy.
Grief and Loss
If there is one thing I have learned in in my years of assisting individuals coping with loss, it’s that the grieving process is different for everyone. There is no one path forward. There is no final end point. Grief is a process that ebbs and flows. It is sometimes all consuming and at other times like a faint whisper in the background. My approach to grief does not prioritize finding “resolution” or “closure”. Rather, I seek to nurture a mindful and accepting posture towards our experience with loss; one that is respectful to our natural capacity to absorb our new reality and to learn to live again.
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The Emerging Adult
Emerging adults are loosely defined as individuals between the ages of 18 and 29. It is a kind of “in between” time of life; no longer an adolescent, but not quite fully an adult. It is a time full of energy and potential, but also fraught with choices, change, and transition, which many find challenging to navigate. Because of changes in cultural and societal norms, this developmental stage is no longer completely dominated by the objective tasks of career selection, choosing a mate, and financial independence. Today’s emerging adults are also deeply focused on the universal questions such as, who am I and what do I want my life to be about?
Spirituality and Religious Impasse
I recognize that for many, spirituality and religious practice are central to identity and personal sense of well-being. I value bringing such elements into the therapeutic space with clients from all faith backgrounds who wish to explore their spiritual lives deeper with me. I enjoy working with clients who are wrestling with some of the greatest questions of meaning, such as: What do I believe; Where do I find God in my life and world; What if there is no God; and Is there meaning in suffering? Likewise, I under-stand some people have been injured and harmed by their experiences in religious and faith communities. Therapy can be helpful in processing these experiences in a way that allows for healing and continued spiritual growth.
My Approach
My approach is best described as insight-oriented, collaborative, honest, and warm. While formally trained in psychodynamic and developmental models of therapy, I also incorporate the practices of CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and ACT (Acceptance Commitment Therapy), which I find to be particularly helpful in the treatment of anxiety and depression. My clients have told me that they appreciate my sensitivity, humor, and ability to be direct in a way that is both challenging and affirming.
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I have been working as a therapist for over 20 years. I graduated in 1994 with B.A. in Psychology from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I went on to complete a Master's Degree at Smith College School for Social Work in 1997. I have worked in community mental health centers, non-profit mental health clinics, and most recently at Duke University's Counseling and Psychological Services. I have been in private practice since 2014.
