Licensed Clinical Social Worker · Charlottesville, VA
I became a therapist because I fell in love with understanding people: what shapes us, what holds us back, and what allows us to genuinely change. That curiosity has never left me. I'm still reading, still learning, and I bring all of it into the room with you.
It started with a psychology class in college that I couldn't stop thinking about. I found myself wanting to understand the science of how we're shaped by our early experiences, how attachment works, why we do the things we do even when we don't want to, and what actually helps people change.
That curiosity hasn't faded. I still enjoy learning about the science of emotion, attachment, and the nervous system, and what I'm learning outside the office inevitably finds its way into the room with us.
But over time, I've come to see that learning and knowledge only get you so far. Many people who come to therapy already understand themselves quite well. They can name their patterns, recognize where things come from, and articulate exactly what isn't working. And yet, not much changes. Real and lasting change tends to require more than insight. It requires experience. That's what drew me to the approaches I practice, and why the work we do together is designed to reach beyond thinking and analyzing, and help change happen somewhere deeper.
One of the things I most want you to know before reaching out is this: you don't need to have it figured out. You don't need an agenda, the right words, or a clear sense of what you're looking for. We can get curious together about what's there. In my experience, if something needs attention, it tends to let us know.
I use AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy) for individual work, and EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy) and Transformative Couples Therapy for couples. All three are experiential approaches, meaning we work at the level of lived emotion, not just thought. I chose these models because I believe healing happens through experience. You can't think your way to a felt sense of safety or self-worth. You have to experience it.
I trust your innate capacity to heal and grow. Together, we can explore what might be getting in the way of that.
People come in carrying something tangled: a mix of thoughts and feelings that feel knotted together and hard to make sense of. A lot of our work is about untangling that enough to actually see what's there.
Over time, clients often describe a shift that's hard to put into words at first, and then they find the words for it.
Outside the office, I find joy in both the active and the quieter parts of life. I love being outside. I play soccer and enjoy hiking. I also like houseplants, coffee, knitting, cooking, and playing board games. I've been in the Charlottesville area for more than 20 years and I genuinely love calling it home.
In addition to seeing clients, I supervise clinicians working toward their LCSW licensure. I find supervision meaningful because it keeps me close to the craft of this profession and the people who are drawn to it.
I'm committed to working from approaches that are grounded in research, and to continuing my own learning throughout my career.
Licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy, for individuals
Emotionally Focused Therapy, for couples
Experiential couples therapy modality
Supervising clinicians pursuing licensure
You don't have to have everything figured out. Reach out and we'll take it from there, together.
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