About Dr. Z

I am the proud mother of two very unique young men and one ridiculous dog. My full-time job is teaching people how to be successful counselors at CCSU, therefore I carry only a small caseload in my practice.  I enjoy gaming, hiking, trying to train said ridiculous dog,  and watching funny movies in my free time.  

Training :

• • PhD in Counseling Education & Supervision from The University of the Cumberlands 

  • MS in Counselor Education from Central Connecticut State University

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Children & Adolescents from the Beck Institute

  • Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy from the Medical University of South Carolina

  • Telemental Health Professional Training from the Center for Credentialing & Education

  • DBT Skills Training

  • Sexual assault crisis counseling

  • Over 150 hours of professional training  in the last three years

Certifications & Licensure:

• • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) within the state of CT

  • Registered Play Therapist

  • National Certified Counselor (NCC) 

  • Board Certified Telemental Health Provider (BC-TMH)

  • Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS)

  • Certified School Counselor

The counseling theories I most frequently utilize include CBT, DBT, existential, gestalt,  feminist, and humanistic theories. I also utilize mindfulness techniques.

I believe:

• Every person and every child is capable & deserving of living a healthy & productive life. 

• Every parent wants what is best for their children.

• Every family is unique and needs to be approached as such.

• The privacy of each family member is critical within the counseling process.

• One of the most crucial things I can bring to a counseling session is my warm acceptance of personal differences and my belief that every problem is manageable. 

• All humans are important and valuable.