ABOUT ME

What I love about my work is guiding people to gently explore their emotions with more ease and confidence. Working with your feelings rather than against them in this way releases some of the judgement and self criticism that plague so many of us. It also eases the pressure to get rid of uncomfortable feelings. With this understanding, creativity expands and ways to manage challenging emotions becomes more available. I enjoy guiding this process and witnessing the increase in self compassion that naturally occurs. This is the process of “innerwork.”

Like you, over the course of my life I have experienced my own ups and downs and have learned to live with my own set of challenging feelings. I am grateful to have learned to do the inner work of looking more curiously and deeply at my feelings, trying to understand their roots, and how I might work with these feelings rather than against them. This more curious perspective has paved the way for a deeper understanding of emotions, in general, and the important role they play in our lives. It is heartwarming to know that with the right support, challenging feelings can become softer and even regarded as meaningful parts of who we are. I invite you to learn these profound skills so that you can live with more moments of self compassion and authenticity.

MY APPROACH

With guided support, and at your pace, I will help you to take a look at the thoughts and feelings that are at the root of your challenges and will help you to understand yourself, your inner world and your emotions in ways that provide greater clarity and awareness. With this understanding I hope to help you find the reassurance, relief, and answers that you have been looking for to help you cope better and with more ease.

I am trained in Internal Family Systems, an evidenced-based approach that is highly effective in treating anxiety, depression and trauma. What is unique about this practice is that it helps to get to the root of your thoughts, feelings and behaviors. This awareness often brings an increase in feelings of self compassion and naturally reduces the self criticism and judgement that plague so many of us. I enjoy working with adults of all ages.

A main goal of our work will focus on helping you to incorporate a more self compassionate perspective as there is much research on the field of self compassion and how this very simple practice can radically change your outlook and mood. I look forward to helping you to navigate the difficulties you are facing with care and compassion.

Experience

I began my work as a mental health clinician in a community outpatient setting in 2006 when I worked with children and families, many of whom had traumatic backgrounds. This was rewarding and challenging work and it provided me with the clinical skills to treat anxiety, depression and trauma. Shortly after, I took some time away from work to enjoy time with my own children before opening my private practice. In 2014 I created Playworks Therapy for Children, LLC where I specialized in play therapy for young children.

When the pandemic unfolded in 2020, I changed my direction as I found it difficult to do traditional play therapy virtually. It seemed natural to begin working with the parents and caregivers of the children with whom I had already been working. I began offering individual therapy to help these parents and caregivers to strengthen their skills as they learned to better understand, regulate and process their own emotions, past histories, and traumas. 

I continued to grow my practice further and created Innerworks Psychotherapy to provide individual therapy to adults with anxiety, depression and trauma. Private practice has been very gratifying and a source of meaningful work for me. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of Connecticut, I have maintained my full time practice for more than 10 years. Please contact me for a free consultation or to schedule an appointment to learn more about how I might be of help to you.