Areas of Expertise
I specialize in supporting individuals through the complex and deeply personal journey of grief and loss. I provide compassionate and personalized therapy to help clients navigate the various emotional, psychological, and existential challenges that arise during times of loss and significant change. In the over 10 years of work that I have done with cancer patients and their loved ones, I focus on tailoring therapy to the unique needs inherent in this community by exploring the emotional roller-coaster that often accompanies diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship.
Grief and loss work encompasses far more than the impact of illness alone. These experiences touch every aspect of life - relationships, identity, purpose, and beyond. My approach acknowledges the profound emotional and existential challenges that accompany loss, whether from illness, life transitions, or other circumstances. I work collaboratively with clients to navigate these complexities of grief, offering support that honors their unique journey and fosters healing and growth.
I am passionate about helping clients explore and understand the various facets that shape their sense of self, including cultural background, personal values, relationships, and life experiences. My approach emphasizes creating a supportive and non-judgmental space where clients can freely explore their identities, navigate identity crises, and cultivate a deeper sense of self-awareness and authenticity.
​​
In this work, I pull on my own experiences as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and as someone who has gone through many different identity iterations as an athlete, musician, student, professional, administrator, and more! Through collaborative exploration and therapeutic techniques tailored to individual needs, I aim to empower clients in their journey toward a more coherent and resilient sense of identity.
Eating disorders and disordered eating are related but distinct concepts in the realm of mental health and nutrition. Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder, involve severe disturbances in eating behaviors and often co-occur with emotional and psychological challenges. These disorders significantly impact a person's physical health and daily functioning.
​
On the other hand, disordered eating refers to a range of irregular eating behaviors that do not meet the clinical criteria for an eating disorder, but may still have negative consequences on one's physical and emotional well-being. Examples include occasional restrictive dieting, occasional binge-eating episodes, or a preoccupation with body weight and shape.
​
I have done extensive work with both clinically diagnosed eating disorders and with disordered eating over the last 12 years, including serving as an Eating Disorder Specialist within a University athletic department and teaching doctoral-level psychology students how to work with this intricate and layered client presentation. I work collaboratively with individuals to address underlying issues such as body image concerns, self-esteem, perfectionism, and emotional regulation. The ultimate goal is to support clients in developing healthier relationships with food and with their bodies, fostering self-acceptance, and promoting sustainable recovery.
I work closely with athletes to develop psychological strategies that optimize their performance and overall well-being. My approach integrates evidence-based techniques such as goal setting, visualization, mindfulness, and stress management tailored to the unique needs of each athlete. I work with both individuals and groups/teams across all competition levels, including high school, travel team, college, amateur, national team, and professional with a variety of presenting concerns.
​
I am committed to helping athletes cultivate resilience, confidence, grit, and mental toughness to achieve their competitive goals and navigate the challenges of high-level sports. Through collaborative coaching and support, I aim to empower athletes to harness their full potential both on and off the field.
​
In 2025, I joined the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Mental Health Directory, a resource designed to support the mental well-being of Team USA athletes. The directory ensures accessible, confidential, and culturally competent care tailored to the unique challenges of the Olympic and Paralympic competitors, fostering resilience, performance, and overall well-being.
​​
From a humanistic existential perspective, trauma is not just an event but a profound disruption of one's existential framework. It shakes the very foundations of how we perceive ourselves, others, and the world around us. I approach trauma with a deep respect for the individual's unique experience, with a focus on helping clients make sense of their trauma within the context of their lives, exploring questions of meaning, purpose, and fears that may arise.
​
Within therapy, we will focus on themes such as freedom, responsibility, and isolation so that clients can begin to reclaim agency, reconstruct their identity, and find new sources of meaning and resilience in their lives.
My Approach
I focus on providing support to individuals and couples through a humanistic and existential lens. Humanistic existential therapy is a therapeutic approach that emphasizes individuality, personal growth, and the search for meaning in the ups and downs of life. It integrates humanistic psychology's focus on self-actualization and personal potential with existential philosophy's exploration of life's inherent challenges and the individual's freedom and responsibility.
​
This style of therapy encourages clients to explore their subjective experiences, values, and choices in order to achieve greater self-awareness, authenticity, and fulfillment in their lives. In using this approach, I emphasize empathy, unconditional positive regard, and a non-judgmental attitude to create a supportive environment for clients to explore their emotions, beliefs, and concerns. This allows clients to develop the tools and insights necessary to navigate life's challenges with greater clarity, authenticity, and resilience.
​
I approach our work with these seven tenants in mind:
​
-
Existential Exploration
-
This allows me to approach your presenting concerns as experiences that may stem from existential concerns such as meaninglessness, freedom, isolation, and mortality.
-
-
Person-Centered Approached
-
This allows me to emphasize the importance of creating a genuine, empathic, and non-judgmental therapeutic relationship. We will focus on your subjective experiences, feelings, and self-understanding.
-
-
Authenticity and Self-Awareness
-
I will encourage you to cultivate self-awareness and authenticity (whatever that might mean to you) in understanding your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.
-
-
Choice and Responsibility
-
We will explore how your choices and values contribute to your current state, without falling into self-blame! I will help you recognize your agency and capacity to make meaningful choices that align with your values and goals.
-
-
Meaning-Making
-
We will explore and construct meaning in your life by identifying sources of meaning, purpose, and fulfillment that can counteract feelings of despair and anxiety.
-
-
Holistic Approach
-
I will always consider your holistic well-being, including physical, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions. Together, we will collaborate on developing strategies and practices that promote overall wellness and resilience.
-
-
Growth and Transformation
-
Everything we go through in life is an opportunity for growth and transformation. Whatever challenges you may be going through, these are invitations to deepen your self-awareness, strengthen your resilience, and cultivate a richer, more meaningful, more fulfilling life.
-
