I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Psychotherapist in Maryland with over 20 years of clinical experience.  Born and raised in the DC area, I attended Sidwell Friends School before receiving my B.A. in African American Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.  I graduated from Columbia University’s School of Social Work in 2001.

After working at House of Ruth in Washington, DC for two years providing individual and group counseling to victims of domestic violence, I completed a two-year advanced clinical training program in psychodynamic psychotherapy at the Washington School of Psychiatry.  In 2013 I became a Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator, based on the research of Dr. Brené Brown and earned a certificate at the National Group Psychotherapy Institute.  In addition, I am an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and Master Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART™) Practitioner.

I have been working with individuals, couples, and groups in private practice in Bethesda since 2004.  I specialize in therapy for depression, anxiety, life transitions including menopause, sexual empowerment, trauma (big T and little T), and relationship challenges.  I enjoy helping all genders let go of perfectionism and move toward greater authenticity, joy, pleasure, and connection.  I am the proud mother of two wonderful daughters.

My Approach to Therapy

My goal as a psychotherapist is to help patients better understand themselves by developing insight into their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and to cultivate the authentic life they have dreamed about.  To facilitate this process, I provide a safe and supportive environment in which counterproductive patterns of behavior are examined within the therapeutic relationship.  Patients often describe me as “warm, empathic, interactive, and direct.”  I am neither the psychoanalyst of the past who is “a blank slate,” nor am I someone who gives advice like a professional coach.  My main goal is to find out what keeps you from living the life you were meant to live.