About Me
I am an independently licensed clinical therapist with more than 20 years of experience working with individuals and families navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, stress, parenting challenges, social and relationship difficulties, and a general sense of feeling stuck. My clinical background and specialized training center on trauma and complex trauma, including how early experiences, disrupted attachments, and longstanding relational patterns can shape the ways we understand ourselves, relate to others, and navigate the world. My style is highly relational, warm, supportive, and sprinkled with humor when appropriate. I work primarily with teens and adults in individual and, at times, dyadic therapy, and I also provide parent coaching and consultation.
I strive to create a space where people feel understood, accepted, and free to show up as they are. I enjoy working with neurodivergent individuals, including those with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other differences in how they think, learn, communicate, and experience the world. Many of the people I work with are bright, capable, and accomplished, yet may struggle with less visible challenges involving emotional regulation, social connection, sensory experiences, relationships, or the expectations of school, work, and everyday life. You do not need a formal diagnosis to explore these experiences in therapy. My goal is to understand your unique way of experiencing the world, recognize the strengths you bring, and help you find approaches that feel authentic and sustainable.
I also have a particular interest in working with high performers across corporate and professional environments, athletics, the creative arts, and demanding academic settings. I work with teens, transition-age youth, and adults navigating competitive environments, ambitious goals, and the pressure to continually achieve. Perfectionism, anxiety, burnout, and self-doubt can be difficult to reconcile with outward success, particularly when achievement has become closely tied to self-worth or a sense of belonging. For some, these patterns are shaped by early relational experiences or trauma; for others, they reflect years of adapting to environments that do not fully accommodate their needs or ways of being. Neurodivergence, trauma, and high performance can intersect in complex ways, and I appreciate the importance of understanding each person's experience rather than making assumptions. My approach is to explore these patterns with curiosity and compassion, helping clients deepen their self-understanding, build on their strengths, and develop a more sustainable and authentic relationship with themselves and others.
Originally from Upstate New York, I worked in human services with individuals and families from diverse backgrounds in Chicago, Illinois; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and Albany, New York, before moving to Boston to pursue a Master’s in Social Work at Boston College. Since graduating in 2008, I have worked in trauma-focused settings as a clinician and Program Director in the Boston MetroWest area. My professional experience spans outpatient therapy, therapeutic schools, residential programs, and foster care and adoption services. Throughout my career, my training has focused on trauma-informed and trauma-focused practices, including supporting individuals and families affected by adverse childhood experiences, disrupted attachments, emotional abuse and neglect, and international and domestic adoption. I have continued to deepen my understanding of how early experiences, attachment relationships, and adaptations to adversity influence development, identity, and emotional well-being.
Deciding to seek therapy for yourself or a loved one is not a small step, and at times it can feel overwhelming. I have a deep appreciation for the courage it takes to reach out during a time of vulnerability and welcome the opportunity to talk with you about your needs.
Advanced Training & Education
Adolescent Community Based Approach Clinician and Supervisor Certification, Chestnut Health System July 2011
Attachment, Self-Regulation, and Competency Building, Dr. Margaret Blaustein, Trauma Center at JRI January 2013
Biofeedback 48-hour BCIA Approved Workshop, Dr. Inna Khazan October 2017
Certificate in Traumatic Stress Studies, Trauma Center at JRI May 2011
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Certificate Program and Intensive Lab, Boston University February 2010
Collaborative Problem Solving Tier 1, Think:Kids, MGH August 2010
Ego States and EMDR, Krentzel & Tattersall June 2023
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Level I & II, EMDRIA March 2012
Flash Technique, Dr. Phil Mansfield July 2021
Neurofeedback Therapy and Advanced Clinical Neurofeedback, EEG Spectrum International June 2009 & July 2011
Parts Work Trauma Specialist Certificate Program, Stacey Ruse LPC 2026
When the Absence of a Negative Does Not Make a Positive: Processing Issues of Attachment Wounding and Identity in Adult Survivors of Childhood Trauma, Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy May 2023
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Level 1, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute May 2021
Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Treatment, Trauma Center at JRI October 2011
Current Interests & Endeavors
Emotional Freedom Technique (Tapping)
EMDR for Sports and Performance
Member, National Association of Social Workers