Credentials and training

I am a Registered Clinician Social Work Intern with four years of experience helping clients move through anxiety disorders, major depressive disorders, relational issues, and PTSD/ CPTSD. My formal education includes a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Florida State University, and a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of North Florida.

I have completed trainings in trauma informed and evidence-based approaches including:

-          Internal Family Systems (IFS)

-          Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)

-          Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

-          Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)

What is my approach to therapy?

I practice from two different theoretical approaches to therapy – I am a “person centered” therapist and I am also an “experiential” therapist.

The person-centered part means that I believe that you are the expert of your own experience. It is not my job to give you the perfect answer to life or to give you a special worksheet/ breathing exercise that is going to fix your problems. It is my job to create a safe, warm, and authentic environment where we can deeply explore your life. We want to get into the nitty gritty and get into the messy emotions.

The ”experiential” part means that I believe that talking about our problems is only half the battle. It is one thing to talk about healing, it is another thing to feel ourselves having a corrective emotional experience in the room. I use techniques that help us experience healing in the present moment.  

Why did I get into this type of work?

My journey to becoming a therapist was kind of a weird one. My early career includes a spattering of different job choices. I’ve been a researcher in university laboratories and a digital marketer in corporate America. I’ve been a special education teacher and worked in tech selling software to big companies.

Throughout all these seemingly random career choices, there was a through-line of an intense curiosity about human suffering and human flourishing. Through a bunch of experimentation, I ultimately found that I have a unique combination of academic rigor and relational warmth. If we’re all on a spectrum from cold-hard-scientist to new-age-hippy, I fall somewhat in the middle that seems to be relatable and authentic to my clients.