OUR THERAPISTS

Therapy does not have to be difficult or scary. I take a balanced approach combining support, warmth, empathy, and humor (when appropriate). Life offers challenges and we figure out different ways to cope. Some coping skills are better than others and talk therapy can help you choose the healthiest ones. I work with Children, Adolescents, Families, Elite Athletes (competing on travel teams, high school, college, and gearing up or in the college recruiting pipeline), as well as people in the LGBTQ community. 

I earned my MSW in Clinical Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University and have a BA in Psychology from Randolph Macon Woman’s College. I was a two-sport athlete in basketball and tennis. As an undergraduate, I spent a year abroad and played international basketball. I have worked in various settings including schools, crisis services, and inpatient and outpatient mental health. During my more than 25 years in private practice, I have also taught at James Madison University and served as an expert witness for the state and federal court system. 

I have lived in the Charlottesville area for 15 years. I am married and we have one young adult child. When I am not working, I am trying to keep up with my family and following my daughter's collegiate lacrosse games in person or on TV. We have a horse, a cat, and a dog who may greet you in my office. (Just the dog, I mean not the horse or cat).

I am a Massachusetts native who has found a home in Virginia for over the past 12 years. I have been passionate about learning about, advocating for, and treating mental health since the age of 17 when I took my first elective in psychology.

Since that first elective, I have gone on to double major in Psychology and Sociology at Roanoke College in Salem, VA and obtained my Master in Social Work through Smith College which is a focused program on clinical social work (psychotherapy). A majority of my 10+ year career has been spent treating those adjusting to new medical conditions or life limiting disease in a medical center/clinic setting. I have specialization in working with cancer patients and their families, and gerontology. Since moving into private practice in 2020, I have broadened my work to supporting couples, and individuals with anxiety and depression. I have additional interest in treating adolescents and adults experiencing OCD.

The therapeutic process is a partnership between therapist and client where both parties work to co-create an ideal treatment space to work on goals identified by the client. I prioritize establishing trust and partnership as we work to identify interventions and tools that will allow you to live a life that feels consistent with what is important to you.

I don’t believe that one size fits all with therapeutic approaches, and I offer an integrative intervention style to best suit your needs. Many of my interventions are informed by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy tenets, mindfulness, and psychodynamic therapy approaches.

I specialize in working with tweens, teens, and adults who are struggling with anxiety, trauma, depression, ADHD, grief, and body image issues. I have a special interest in working with members of the LGBTQ community. If you or your child is having a hard time with social pressure, adjusting to school or other transitions, sadness, managing daily stressors, and/or identity development, I would love to help. I utilize a strengths-based approach in my work, meaning I strive to help my clients use their strengths to work through their weaknesses. I am relationship-based and encourage my clients to incorporate healthy coping skills, such as walking, talking, and mindfulness, into their lifestyle.

I have lived in the Charlottesville area for over twenty-five years and attended UVA for my undergraduate degree. I earned my Master’s in Social Work (MSW) from VCU and am currently a Resident in Social Work. My supervisor is Jesse Dice, LCSW. Throughout my time in graduate school and in my experience working in schools and at UVA, I have always had a passion for helping people manage difficult situations.

I currently live in Crozet with my family, including two teenagers who keep me on my toes.

Starting therapy can be a vulnerable step. It takes courage to seek support and open up about your thoughts and feelings. I am here to provide a safe, compassionate space where you can explore your experiences without judgment.

Before moving to Charlottesville, I practiced in North Carolina for over four years in a variety of settings, including inpatient, residential, and most recently outpatient counseling. I am experienced in supporting adolescents and adults navigating eating disorders and body image distress, obsessive compulsive tendencies, anxiety, and depression. I am passionate about helping individuals heal their relationship with food and their body, and am a HAES (Health at Every Size) aligned provider. 

I describe the relationship between a therapist and the client as a collaborative one, and work with clients to determine what works best for them! I incorporate aspects of Person-Centered Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Dialectic Behavioral Therapy into therapy sessions. 

I earned my Masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at North Carolina State University, and my Bachelors in History and Human Service Studies at Elon University. I am a Resident in Counseling in Virginia, and am under supervision of Danielle Keller, LPC. In addition to being a Resident in Counseling, I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in North Carolina and a Professional Counselor Telehealth Provider in South Carolina. 

I live in Charlottesville with my husband, and dog, Mulligan. When I’m not in sessions, I enjoy exploring the Charlottesville area, cheering on the NC State Wolfpack, and spending time with my family, friends, and of course, Mulligan!

Do you want to learn more about yourself and how you walk through life? Do you experience difficulties in areas that others seem to have a relatively easy time managing? I’m a licensed clinical social worker in Virginia and currently live in Charlottesville. I received my Master’s in Social Work at USC in Los Angeles, CA and spent my internship years working with dementia patients, as well as gaining experience with the chronic pain population. 

By working in the intensive outpatient program environment in Los Angeles, I became familiar with working with a wide variety of individuals in need of mental health care, from substance use disorders and postpartum PTSD to situational depression and panic disorder, drawing therapeutic interventions from a broad mix of treatment styles, from Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Emotion Focused Therapy to Psychodrama and Mindfulness.

I mainly work with adults struggling with depression, anxiety, panic, and women’s issues stemming either from long-standing life occurrences or situational events leading to general malcontent. I love this work and am here to help.