Book a therapist or psychiatrist in Gastonia, NC covered by Cigna

I’ve been practicing therapy for 25 years, which has included 12 years in NC and prior practice in both Kansas and New Mexico. I’ve worked in community mental health most of my career so I’ve had the opportunity to serve all ages and provide treatment for a huge variety of mental health concerns. I’m pretty down to Earth, open, honest, and genuine. I can be direct when needed to help bring awareness or light to a potential problem area while at the same time me providing support and encouragement. I enjoy hearing people’s life stories and helping individuals navigate their way through difficult life situations and problematic symptoms. No judgment, just a person available to help you find what you need.

I believe healing is possible, even after deep or prolonged trauma. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive experience supporting girls and women who have been impacted by trauma, anxiety, OCD, and/or life transitions. My work is grounded in evidence-based practice, cultural humility, and compassion. I strive to create a space where clients feel emotionally safe, respected, and understood. For those who desire it, I also offer Christian-integrated therapy, thoughtfully incorporating faith and spiritual values in a clinically ethical and client-centered way. My goal is to walk alongside you with clarity, structure, and hope as you move toward meaningful and lasting change.

I see counseling as a walk between two people, a time to discuss the ups and downs of life. I am person centered; solution focused and draw from a wide range of CBT mindfulness and Accelerated Resolution Therapy techniques that will help my clients find their own unique path in life.

Life has been very stressful lately. I've spoken with hundreds of people recently who are feeling at least a little stressed or down. Most people I talk with wait a long time before getting into therapy. Why continue to wait? Do you want to have a better relationship with anxiety? Are your anxious or self-critical thoughts keeping you down? Are you ready to try something new? I use a holistic approach with several research-based interventions including CBT, Heart Math, and Solution-Focused Therapy,

I earned a Masters of Science in Clinical Counseling from Wright State University in 2007. I have been practicing Mental Health Counseling for 18 years and have worked in several different settings including outpatient therapy, mobile crisis, employee assistance, department of defense, veterans and private practice.

Together, we will develop a comprehensive plan so that you can get the tools you need to help you reach your goals. It takes a lot of courage to reach out for help and for that I appreciate you. Please contact me to see if we're a good fit.

My path to becoming a therapist is rooted in lived experience. Claiming joy and authenticity—as a sober, trans, kinky, non-monogamous, bisexual person—has taken time, intention, and community. I’ve moved through fear, people-pleasing, relapse, and grief, and found healing in therapy and holistic recovery spaces that reminded me who I was when I couldn’t see it myself.

I believe we’re all doing our best with the tools we have, and that therapy can offer space to build new ones—tools for feeling more, hiding less, and showing up in ways that feel true. My style is collaborative, steady, and grounded in care that doesn’t shy away from depth.

I earned my MSW from Columbia University in 2015 and began my career in home-based family therapy at NY Foundling. I later supported LGBTQIA+ youth at the LGBT Center and joined Dulcinea Pitagora’s group practice before founding my own. I continue to offer clinical supervision to social work interns at the LGBT Center.

After 11 years in NYC, I moved to the Hudson Valley to live among trees, rescue dogs, and small-town queer community. Outside of session, I’m often on a trail, on my yoga mat, or watching the birds from my porch.