Who Am I ?

I am a mental health counselor from Vermont. I try to bring the down-to-earth nature of Vermont to the city life of Chicago in my work with others.

I studied Psychology at the University of Vermont and also minored in Spanish and Film/Television Studies.  I received my Master’s degree in Counseling from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology and completed my Doctorate in Psychology at Roosevelt University.  In addition to private practice settings, I also have experience working in community mental health, employee assistance program (EAP), and hospital settings.  I have worked with people struggling with substance abuse and gambling addictions, survivors of sexual abuse, people with developmental disabilities, women going through divorce, and members of the Latino population.  I offer individual, couples, and group counseling.

Through working with others, I have become particularly interested in trauma and recovering from injustice.  Injustices can happen to anyone and I believe it is one of my most important responsibilities as a therapist to help people cope with these experiences.  When someone experiences an injustice or severe trauma, his or her sense of safety in the world can be altered.  It is my job to help people reclaim their security and develop new meaning to these difficult experiences.

To help with this, I have a pug named Bernie.  He has been with me since he was a baby and has brought happiness to many people with his playful energy and silly expressions.  He is here to love and comfort whoever is near him.

Approach to Treatment

Since therapy is about you, I work to make sure that you are getting what you need from this process.  To do this, I take a very person-centered approach.  I use humanistic orientations including Rogerian and Existential therapy.  I also use elements of  psychoanalysis as well.

In any type of therapy, it is important to me that you have a good relationship with the therapist and feel like a priority.  I will help you recognize your strengths and assert your rights.  No matter what your struggles may be, we will seek to find immediate relief from your issues while also exploring some of their deeper root causes to try to ensure that they don’t continue to happen.