Welcome to my practice! I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who practices in Ellicott City, Maryland, and Washington, DC. My love of working with children, teens, and couples has grown out of my experience as a play therapist in community mental health care and school settings. In addition to my individual work, I also cofacilitate, Girls in Tune Social Skills Groups at the Center for Family Well-Being in Washington, DC. Girls in Tune, is a social skills group aimed at helping tweens and teens improve their relationships and better manage stress and anxiety.
My work with children and teens has focused largely on those who have difficulty in their relationships, primarily with friends. I often see children and teens struggling with:
- depression
- anxiety
- trauma
- regulatory issues (like ADHD)
- developmental disorders (such as Autism and Asperger’s Disorder)
In my work, I use several strategies, including cognitive behavior techniques and play therapy, to provide individual skills that address the challenges children and teens may be having.
I know how challenging and stressful it can be as a parent and spouse. As parents, we are expected to fulfill so many roles and be successful as parents, spouses, and for some professionally, in ways that past generations have not.
While working with children, I believe in supporting parents and am passionate about providing parenting support and coaching. When we are not connecting with our kids, or are unsure what may be going on with them, it creates a great amount of stress in the home. By quickly addressing what may be going on at home and applying some easy strategies things can improve rapidly.
I have also seen the strain that can be placed on parents’ relationships as they try to support their children. For this reason, I started working with couples and began receiving ongoing training in the Gottman Method Couples Therapy. This method focuses on strengthening the foundation of the relationship, building connections, and helping to resolve conflict. It has been shown to be a proven and effective method of working with couples.
I received my Master of Social Work from the National Catholic School of Social Service at The Catholic University in Washington, D.C.
- Maryland (License Number 20431)
- Virginia (License Number 0904007178)
- Washington, D.C. (License Number LC50078801)
