What led me to become a therapist...

When I was a child, my mother taught me a poem called “Children Learn What They Live.” It had a big influence on me – so much so that I knew at age 15 that I wanted to work with kids.

When I was a junior in college, the unimaginable happened, as I lost my teenaged brother. That tragedy affected me profoundly, igniting a passion for turning life’s lemons into lemonade.

I had a mission: to help people who are suffering but don’t know how to change it.

I use a range of modalities with my clients (typically aged 6-25), depending on their developmental stage and treatment needs.

For example, I use play therapy or expressive therapy techniques with children.

Motivational interviewing and strength-based approaches usually work well with teens.

Dialectical-behavioral, cognitive-behavioral, or solution-focused approaches may be used with adults.

I take a targeted approach to therapy.

During the first two or three sessions, you will be in the “exploration stage.” During this time, you’ll get comfortable clarifying the problems that have brought you to counseling.

After that, you may be in the “planning stage,” where you’ll develop a plan for change.

A month or so into therapy, you may be in the “action stage.” Here, you’ll take concrete steps to achieve lasting change.