About Me
I have worked in the field of crisis intervention, counseling and therapy for 20 years. I started my work as a crisis counselor for the DC Rape Crisis Center and have worked in a wide variety of settings throughout my career -- hospitals, college counseling centers, family medicine
clinics, rape crisis centers, and private practice.
In my practice I provide a variety of services: individual counseling and therapy for older adolescents and adults, training in multiple specialty areas, advocacy for survivors of domestic and sexualized violence, and supervision for limited licensed professionals.
Areas of Specialization
- Trauma
- Eating disorders
- Emotional/Social Issues of College and High School Students (including those who are gifted, learning disabled, or twice exceptional)
- Managing Chronic Illness
- Reproductive issues/Negative Birth Experience
- Adult children of alcoholic/dysfunctional families
- Managing Transition
- Divorce
- Spirituality
- Sexuality
My work involves exploring people’s strengths as well as ambivalence about change, and applying multiple strategies to achieve a client’s goals. These may involve:
- Motivational Interviewing
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Gestalt Techniques
- Inner child work
- Mindfulness
- Person-centered or other approaches
Training
I am an experienced trainer of mental health and medical professionals. I have provided training to interns, post-doctoral fellows, social workers, psychologists, medical doctors, nutritionists, nurses and others. My areas of expertise include:
- Motivational Interviewing
- Domestic and Sexualized Violence
- Trauma
- Divorce
- Multicultural or cross-cultural counseling
- Spirituality
- Mental Health and College Students
- Survey Research
- Basic Counseling Skills
Advocacy
Advocacy involves providing support, assistance and guidance for survivors of sexualized or domestic violence as they navigate the many systems and situations they may encounter as they work to manage, recover and/or heal from their experience(s). These may include:
- interacting with the legal system
- obtaining medical care
- managing academic or employment issues
As an advocate I can provide information and guidance, act as a liasion with various systems, provide support and appropriate referrals if needed. I cannot provide advocacy and therapy for the same individual, but can assist in finding appropriate resources for either.
Supervision
My practice includes supervision of mental health professionals in both social work and psychology who are seeking their licensure or required to have supervision. I have conducted both individual and group supervision. Supervision can be tailored to the individual needs of the practitioner including focusing on particular approaches, populations or general supervision.
Education
Georgia State University
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, 2003
Emphasis: Health Psychology
Teachers College Columbia University
M.A. in Health Education, 1994
Schimmel Scholar 1993-1994
University of Michigan
B.G.S. in Political Science, English and French, 1989