I recognize that bringing your child to therapy can feel daunting (maybe to both you and your child!). My ultimate intention is to facilitate a positive experience that builds on a child’s strengths, is inclusive of family, and addresses the child’s needs. I believe that individuals of all ages are capable of growth and change, even when it may not feel like it. I understand that a child’s social and emotional needs and the impact relational and environmental factors have on their development and wellbeing is complex.
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I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with experience working in a clinical setting with children from elementary age through high school and their families.
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I am licensed as a LCSW in Virginia and a LICSW in Washington, DC. I am a Child and Adolescent Trauma Professional and a Certified Trauma-Sensitive Youth Yoga Instructor. I am currently a Fellow at the Washington Baltimore Center for Psychoanalysis and have considerable training on the impact of trauma on the developing brain and how body-based, sensory interventions can facilitate healing. I utilize the following therapeutic modalities and interventions: play therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and expressive modalities, such as art. I incorporate mindfulness and trauma-sensitive yoga in my approach with youth if children and families, as clinically appropriate (and only if children and families are open to it of course!).
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As a current school-based mental health provider in Washington DC, I am keenly aware of the importance of a supportive school setting for youth with unique needs. I provide training and consultation to school staff and administration in creative and strengths-based ways to support the social-emotional wellbeing of students in the school setting so that all youth can access their education in a way that is appropriate for their needs. I have experience consulting on the implementation of Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), 504 Plans, and Behavioral Intervention Plans (BIPs).
Education
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Washington Baltimore Center for Psychoanalysis, Fellow, Child & Adolescent Psychoanalytic Fellowship
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Loyola University Chicago, Master of Social Work, Specializations: Children & Families, Advanced Family Treatment
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College of Charleston – Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Clinical Areas of Expertise
I specialize in working with children and adolescents who have experienced:
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Trauma(s)
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Grief/loss
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Anxiety
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Depression
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Physical and sexual abuse
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Attachment disruptions
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Foster care involvement
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Adoption
Experience
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School-based mental health therapist for elementary-aged children in Washington, DC. Provide individual, family, and group therapy to youth PreK through 5th grade. Provide consultation and support to school staff regarding social-emotional needs of students and support for students with mental health diagnoses. Support larger school community by providing psychoeducational trainings and assist with access to resources.
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Social worker at Children’s Law Center in Washington, DC. Provided consultation, advocacy, and testimony regarding mental health and clinical assessment to attorney guardians ad litem who represented the most high-need, at-risk youth in foster care in DC.
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School-based mental health therapist for youth in Minneapolis, MN. Provided consultation, support, and training to school staff regarding social-emotional and mental health needs of students and families.