About Me

I have experience working with a vast array of clinical issues and love working with clients from diverse backgrounds. Both my clinical and research interests reflect my passion for understanding what makes people change and understanding how to most effectively guide clients toward living more fulfilling lives. I believe that therapy is most effective with a multi-layered approach which integrates a deeper understanding one’s own self along with tangible coping tools to actively bring about change. My approach to therapy is warm and supportive, yet interactive and direct and I strive to be authentic and honest while providing a safe and compassionate environment for change. I integrate across multiple therapeutic modalities, including emotion-focused, interpersonal, cognitive-behavioral, mindfulness and dialectical-behavioral. 

I have worked in a variety of treatment contexts, including primary care clinics, cancer treatment centers, college counseling centers, and outpatient mental health clinics. I have also been involved in an extensive line of research investigating interventions for depression and self-criticism, domestic violence, and predictors of suicidal behavior. I have presented at national conferences and published in professional journals.

In addition, I have worked extensively in the area of health psychology helping people cope with chronic medical illnesses and make changes in health-related behaviors. In this work, I work hand-in-hand with medical treatment teams to provide a holistic approach to treatment, which addresses an individual’s physical and emotional well-being. I have provided consultation services for physicians and spent time facilitating a number of support groups in medical settings focusing on post-cancer recovery, diabetes management, and pain management. I have spent time teaching and training family medicine residents to help them be more effective in treating and interacting with their patients.

Areas of Practice and Education

I WORK WITH

• Individuals 16 years and older

• Couples

CLINICAL ISSUES

Anxiety, trauma, depression, self-criticism/perfectionism, stress, fertility issues and transition to parenthood, chronic medical issues, relationship issues life-transitions, grief, couples counseling,

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

• APA Postdoctoral Fellowship – Emory University School of Medicine

• PhD-Clinical Psychology-University of Arizona

• APA Internship–University of Wisconsin School of Medicine

• BA-University of Michigan 

SPECIALIZED TRAINING

• Emotion Focused Therapy for Individuals- Levels 1 and 2

• Gottman Couples Therapy-Levels 1 and 2

• Emotion Focused Couples Therapy-Clinical Externship and Core Skills Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4

• Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Facilitator Training

• Nutritional and Integrated Medicine for Health Professionals

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS

• Adjunct Assistant Professor, Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences