I'm guessing you're here because you need some help.
After all, if you’d been able to figure it out on your own, you wouldn't be looking for a therapist.
You've tried just about everything, and you're not sure what to do now. All you know is, despite your best efforts you still:
feel not-good-enough
feel the crushing weight of others’or your own expectations for yourself and don't know how to let go
are stuck in patterns of people-pleasing or perfectionism
just don't like yourself much
are experiencing anxiety or having panic attacks
deal with a lot of stress
can't stop worrying
are always looking over your shoulder or waiting for something bad to happen
Or maybe, you’ve gotten a diagnosis of anxiety, PTSD, or C-PTSD, and want help understanding what this means for you.
Maybe you grew up in a difficult family dynamic or have experienced a lot of difficult or traumatizing events and you're ready to process the impact they've had on you.
Maybe you have worked with other therapists, and it didn't feel good or the changes didn't stick.
If you’re here because of your relationship, you:
feel like you’re working way too hard to make the relationship work
feel emotionally unsupported by your partner
end up yelling at each other almost every time you fight
fight every time you try to talk about a particular topic
are not connecting with each other because of the past pain and hurt that’s built up
struggle to communicate about anything meaningful
Or maybe you:
are exploring how to keep your connection sacred as you explore inviting other lovers/boos/friends/etc.
are negotiating the form of poly that works best for both of you
want to strengthen your communication or attachment bond
want to learn emotional skills to better support each other
want to learn how heal your attachment wounds in your partnership
want to be more open and honest with each other
I offer:
non-judgmental healing space
deeply healing experiences
tools, skills, and strategies you can take with you after therapy is over
consistent belief in your ability to heal
information to help make sense of what's going on
observation of where cultural messages might be showing up
resources to support yourself or find support
advice if you want it
honest observation about your patterns
celebration of your wins
Work with me feels warm, compassionate, accepting, non-judgmental, gently challenging, educational, and deeply healing.
Folks who I work with have successfully shifted their patterns of unhealthy relating and coping. As a result, they feel more expansive, confident, and healthy. They enjoy healthier relationships with themselves, others, and the collective.
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In individual therapy, we’ll take a look at the patterns that are holding you back. We’ll get to the roots of your wounds and the beliefs you hold about yourself that are making you miserable. We’ll make space to feel so you can actually heal those old hurts, making space for confidence, freedom, clarity, and self-compassion.
55- or 85-minute appointments
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In couples therapy, we’ll take a deep look at your patterns of communication and conflict. We’ll work together to boost what’s working and leave behind what’s not. Together, we’ll work toward secure attachment so your relationship can be a source of healing.
85-minute appointments
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I help teens explore their gender identity, whether they’re just starting to wonder where they fall on the spectra of gender identity and expression or whether they’ve already settled on identity and expression that feel good to them. I’ve supported teens with getting clearer about their gender identity and expression, transitioning socially, and coming out to immediate and extended family. For older teens and with family involvement, we’ve explored options for and implications of biological transition.
55- or 85-minute appointments -
I work within the Triadic Model to support you in exploring healthy sexuality, sexual identity, and sexual experiences, often working to deeply heal sexual and relational trauma. We’ll work alongside your Surrogate Partner, with regular meetings with the three of us to best support your healing and growth. Therapy will focus, at least in part, on integrating the experiences you’re having with your Surrogate Partner and applying the skills to your life outside of appointments.
prioritize developing a safer and non-judgemental healing relationship with you so we can get to the roots of your pain
share information, insight, and/or analysis about what youre going through so you can better understand your patterns
help you access scary, painful, difficult, or hidden emotions and offer emotionally reparative experiences so you feel more in charge of your emotional life
help you explore your inner world through body sensations, your inner child/parts, and/or hypnotherapy to heal old wounds
support you in learning and consistently using healthier coping skills
help you break down barriers so that you have access to the skills you need to successfully navigate life
During our appointment, I:
My work is informed by:
attachment research
IFS (Internal Family Systems)
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
feminism and anti-oppression
Rogerian/person-centered approach
psychodynamic theory
AEDP (Accelerated Emotional Depth Processing)
Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy
Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB)
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
I work best with folks who:
are ready to bravely explore their inner life
are open to healing exercises and experiences
want some feedback and information from their therapist
are ready to go deep in your healing to address the roots of the problems in your life, rather than continuing to address symptoms
Background, Training & Specializations
When you work with me, you’re working with a therapist who takes her own growth seriously.
I earned my Masters of Science, Social Work in clinical social work from the University of Texas at Austin in 2017. I've been practicing in social work and social work-adjacent roles since 2012.
Since becoming licensed, I’ve taken more than the minimum required number of continuing education units to maintain my license. This means I have hundreds of hours of additional training in treating trauma.
Some of these trainings have included:
Training in complex trauma and trauma informed care from various perspectives and facilitators (200+ Hours)
Emotionally-Focused Individual Therapy (6 Hours)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) with Wayne King (50 Hours)
Liberatory Therapy with Baltimore Changemakers with Dr. Shawna Murray-Brown (16 Hours)
Decolonizing Therapy for Black Folks with Dr. Shawna Murray-Brown (20 Hours)
Therapy That Liberates Intensive with Dr. Shawna Murray-Brown (24 Hours)
Somatic Trauma Processing with Linda Thai (12 Hours)
Supervising Surrogate Partner Therapy in the Triadic Model with Andrew Hartmann (6 hours)
Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy with the Wellness Institute (50 Hours)
Ethics (10 Hours)
Implicit Bias & Systems of Oppression (6 Hours)
I worked with a consultant who supervised my clinical work for three years beyond what was necessary for completing the social work licensure process. I continue to work with consultants when needed to best serve the folks I work with.
Who’s Taught Me
Some of the mentors, therapists and folks who have educated and inspired me are: Laura Caslin, Candyce Ossefort-Russell, Margaret Hill, Cossy Hough, Sarah Swords, Alison Fader-Brock, Rebecca Gomez, Sarah McCafferty, Sarah Stone, Marcus Luna, Camila Figueroa, Shane Whalley, Dr. Michele Roundtree, Helen Scism, Gillian Gregory, Teri Rich, Jen Lemen, Shawna Murray-Browne, adrienne maree brown, Emily Nagoski, Julie Jeske, Gina Senarighi, Jackson McKenzie, Alan Johnson, Hanne Blank, Yolanda Renteria, margeaux feldman, and Rick Hanson.
Specializations
I’ve been working as a trauma therapist long enough that I have a few areas where I know a bit more, have seen similar patterns play out across several folks’ lived experiences, and have developed specialized expertise that can make your journey a little easier:
patterns of perfectionism, people-pleasing, codependence, avoidance, emotional overwhelm, adult children of emotionally immature parents
chronic and invisible illness, grieving loss of ability, navigating school and workplace accommodation and disability leave processes
relationship to food and body, building healthy relationship to food after patterns of bingeing or restricting
working for the government or a government (sub)contractor in tech, cybersecurity, or IT
working in a University setting in healthcare and public health
folks who have reached a limit with how helpful/effective talk therapy has been, over-relying on an intellectual understanding, getting head and heart on the same page
All the Logistical Details
I meet with individuals, couples, and families in-person at my home office in the Hampden neighborhood of Baltimore City.
I meet with folks anywhere in Maryland online with telehealth.
I offer appointments on an ongoing basis at weekly, biweekly, or monthly frequency, depending on your goals and my availability.
Fees and Insurance
$245 per 55-minute appointment
$360 per 85-minute individual appointment
$400 per 85-minute couples appointment
I am an out-of-network (OON) provider for all health insurance plans.
I can provide a superbill after each appointment that you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement, or I work with Thrizer, a service that submits superbills on your behalf.
Most folks with OON benefits are reimbursed $80-$210 after meeting their deductibles.
You can use an HSA or FSA to pay therapy fees.
Office Hours
I meet with folks between 8:45am and 5:10pm on Mondays and Wednesdays.
My last appointment of the day starts at 4:15pm.
I currently have availability for new clients.
My License and Code of Ethics
I am a licensed social worker in Maryland. My license number is 23320.
LCSW-C means Licensed Certified Social Worker - Clinical.
As a licensed social worker, I am bound to uphold the National Association of Social Workers' Code of Ethics. I am strongly committed to adhering to this code.
If after working with me or any other social worker, you believe a social worker has violated the Code of Ethics, you can make a complaint to the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners.