About Me
I am a licensed clinical social worker with over a decade of experience in the field. I work with adults, couples, and families navigating relational difficulties, substance misuse, and life-cycle transitions. Prior to transitioning to a full-time private practice, I was a counselor at an employee assistance program serving New York Presbyterian Hospital, wherein I provided short-term counseling to hospital employees and their household members, many of whom had never accessed mental health care before meeting with me. For over 5 years before that, I was a hospital social worker; in this capacity, I bore witness to much human suffering as well as astonishing resilience. The time I spent, in both inpatient and outpatient medical settings, supporting the chronically ill and their caretakers, continues to inform my work. I maintain a special interest in partnering with clients facing medical challenges as well as with clients who identify as health care providers themselves.
More About Me
Drawing on psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, and relational approaches, I will help you navigate life’s challenges, including anxiety, depression, addiction, illness, relationship / intimacy concerns, and grief. I work with people who want to set clear boundaries, but who find that perfectionism, people-pleasing, and negative self-talk get in the way. I think of myself not as an omniscient expert, but rather, as someone who has studied a range of therapeutic approaches and devoted her professional life to being curious about people and asking thoughtful questions.
My style is warm as well as direct, and I often use humor and metaphor to connect with my clients. I strive to help my clients find new ways of relating with others by creating the space for a therapeutic relationship to flourish, and it is this relationship that becomes a safe (though not always comfortable) place to practice having tough discussions and giving and receiving meaningful feedback. I am always interested in the ways in which race, gender, sexual orientation, and other identities show up in our day-to-day experiences. In therapy with me, this translates into conversations about how we see ourselves and how we believe others see us.
I hold a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Columbia University School of Social Work and completed a 4-year post-master’s training program in couples and family therapy at the Ackerman Institute for the Family. My undergraduate degree is in English Literature and History from Swarthmore College.