I truly admire anyone with the bravery and curiosity to take this meaningful first step toward creating positive change in their life. Throughout my work, I have witnessed people’s incredible capacity to heal when given the right tools and environment. My approach focuses on delivering nonjudgmental support while helping clients identify their own goals and access the necessary resources to achieve them. I’m here to help you find the treatment approaches and techniques that work when you need them most, outside of therapy.
I earned my Master of Social Work degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. I spent my clinical training in diverse settings, from suburban government to outpatient substance treatment centers in Chicago. I have seen firsthand the impact of systemic barriers and stigma on mental health treatment, and I am passionate about accessibility, client autonomy, and serving vulnerable communities.
As a licensed social worker in Illinois, I honor self-determination and am humbled to walk alongside individuals as they reclaim strength and stability in their lives. Throughout my career, I provided direct support to clients with multifaceted needs related to substance use, mental illness, and complex trauma. This afforded me significant experience applying evidence-based theories, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Rational Emotional Behavioral Therapy (REBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS).
As a certified SMART Recovery facilitator, I support multiple pathways to substance recovery and consistently apply a harm reduction approach across all areas of therapeutic practice. I also have a deep interest in somatic, or body-centered, therapeutic techniques such as meditation, breathwork, and Brainspotting. My training in Brainspotting has reinforced my belief in the mind-body connection and how subtle physical processes can unlock profound insight into unresolved trauma. My trauma-informed practice ensures that I respond to clients with sensitivity to their past experiences, fostering a sense of safety and dignity in our work together.
At one time, even our most harmful behaviors were necessary coping mechanisms we developed to survive difficult experiences. Change is always possible, regardless of how long one has lived with trauma, substance use, depression, anxiety, grief, rage, shame, isolation, or perfectionism. As life unfolds, so does our growth.
