I began my work helping people in 1997, at Camp Venture. There, I assisted people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including Down Syndrome and Autism. During that time, I became expert in crisis management, supporting the development of self-sufficiency and independence in very low-functioning people. It was during those years that I developed a profound respect for the human spirit and the struggle for dignity and agency that we can experience during our lives. I also worked as a behavioral therapist at Abbott House for ten years, treating adults with co-morbid mental health disorders and training staff in pro-active methodologies. From 2016 to 2022, I worked as a substance abuse counselor at Lexington Center for Recovery, a medication assisted treatment facility. There, I counseled adults suffering from drug addiction, treating the many unresolved feelings of anxiety, depression, fear and anger underlying addictive behaviors.

My therapeutic approach is trauma informed. I also use CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) to challenge the distortions in our thinking that can lead us to have negative beliefs about ourselves and make poor life decisions. I fundamentally believe that our mistakes do not define us; that we can learn from them and achieve a life balance that allows us to live with grace.

“In reality, we have no control over the curveballs that life throws at us. Obviously, we can’t change the past, but together you and I can develop coping strategies to assist you in creating the life you want to live.”