Therapy for anxiety, trauma, perinatal mental health in Philadelphia
215-436-9155
ABOUT ME
I became a psychologist because I believe that life is too hard to go through alone, and that a tremendous amount of healing can happen in the context of a supportive relationship. Clients typically find me when they are struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief/loss, and major life transitions. Another area of focus in my practice is reproductive psychology, helping individuals through infertility; loss; prenatal anxiety, depression, body image issues; traumatic childbirth; and postpartum adjustment/mood difficulties. I also see many health care providers in my practice, including physicians, nurses, and therapists.
My long-standing interest in psychology began during my days as a high school cross country runner, when I realized that self-defeating thoughts directly impacted my race performance. I became fascinated by the power of the mind as a force for both positive and negative change. I went on to receive my B.A. in Psychology from Columbia University and my M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Temple University. I completed my pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral residency at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center. I am licensed in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island, and can provide telehealth for individuals in Florida and all PSYPACT states.
MY APPROACH
I prioritize building a safe, trusting, and collaborative relationship with my clients. I want therapy to be a place where you can practice being open and sharing parts of yourself that you might be tempted to hide. Additionally, research consistently shows that the quality of the therapeutic relationship predicts treatment success. My therapy style is integrative, meaning I draw from different clinical approaches and current research and understanding in the field to tailor our work to you. I have a strong background in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which forms the foundation of my approach. CBT is a very effective form of therapy that helps you learn to see the connections between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to help you feel better and make changes in your life. I have found that many clients also benefit from the addition of approaches like mindfulness and self-compassion, which can help silence your inner critic and allow you to be more present in your own life.
SPECIALIZED TRAINING
TRAUMA
Helping individuals heal and reclaim their lives from trauma is one of my true passions, which is why I pursued specialized training throughout graduate school and devoted an additional post-doctoral year to a residency focused on treating trauma and co-occurring conditions. I have training and experience in evidence-based trauma-focused treatments.
PRENATAL & POSTPARTUM MENTAL HEALTH
Pregnancy and postpartum are unique, often complicated times, and deserve special knowledge and training. I spent many years during college and graduate school researching stress during pregnancy. Additionally, I have specialized training and experience in perinatal mental health as a certified perinatal mental health professional through Postpartum Support International (PSI).
ANXIETY
I received specialized training in anxiety disorders under the direction of Dr. Rick Heimberg, an internationally regarded expert on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). I expanded my training in anxiety disorders during my internship at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center under the direction of national trainers for evidence-based psychotherapies.
COUPLES
I have specialized training and experience working with couples for short-term consultation and Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT), an empirically validated approach.