If You Are Reading This What You Really Want to Know is…
Can I really help? Who am I?
 Am I good at what I do?
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The short answer is: Yes. I’ve worked with thousands of clients over twenty-five years. I’ve trained under world-class experts to reach the highest level of skill, and I am continually learning so I can be the expert you need. But beyond the credentials, I want you to know who I am and how I work.
In the Room: I’m Jumping Into the Deep End With You
Working with two people in a room is where I shine. I consider being a therapist an absolute privilege, but I am not the “nod your head” type of therapist. We will work hard.
I know you are the expert on you, but I have a great BS detector. I’ll call you on your stuff. I will laugh with you, I will cry with you, and I will bring everything I have researched and experienced to our time together. After two decades, I am “unshockable.” Sex? Money? Long-held secrets? Let’s get it all out. There is nothing to be ashamed of here; this is where the healing begins.
My Approach: Clinical Excellence Meets Real-World Change
I approach my work from a core belief: All of life’s pain is born of loss. Not just death, but the loss of love, marriage, health, or hope. To address this, I weave together several cutting-edge modalities:
- Relationship Mastery: I am a Collaborative Couples Therapist trained by Dan Wile, and extensively trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Gottman Method (Level 2), Imago, and PACT.
- The New Frontier: I now offer Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) for individuals and couples, providing a safe, medically-backed path to “rewire” damaged neural pathways and break through chronic plateaus.
- Trauma & Identity: As a Board Diplomate in Trauma, I utilize EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Brainspotting to help you find your way “home” to yourself.
- Sexuality: Certified by the Institute for Relational Intimacy, I specialize in desire discrepancy, sexuality and aging, and LGBTQIA+ / Transgender couples therapy.
A Little More About Me
I love New York and lived all across the state—most recently in Buffalo—before relocating to Virginia. If I had a fairy godmother, I’d live in a Greenwich Village brownstone, walking to bookstores and museums every day. However, I believe we must “bloom where we are planted.”
My own journey led me to Hot Yoga (Bikram) over 20 years ago; it changed my life so much that I became an instructor. When I’m not in the studio, you can find me traveling with my husband or my big shaggy dog to visit family and friends.
Rates
Private Pay Counseling Services
I believe therapy should be active, solution-focused, and have a definite ending.
| Intake Session | $400 for 90-minute session |
| Individual Therapy | $350 for 55-minute session |
| Couples/Family Therapy | $350 for 55-minute session |
| Late Cancellation | Full Session Fee for cancellation within 24 hours of appointment |
| No Show Appointment Fee | Full Appointment Fee + phone call required to be reinstated on schedule |
| Weekend/Evening Appointments | $100 additional |
Payment
Cash, check and credit or debit cards are accepted for payment.
Insurance
While I am a private-pay provider and do not accept insurance directly, I provide full documentation/superbills for you to submit for out-of-network reimbursement.
Curriculum Vitae (The “Official” List)
I served as a Clinical Professor at SUNY Buffalo for 11 years and have keynoted at national conferences on high-conflict divorce and attachment trauma.
View my full list of accomplishments, board positions, and research
- Couples Therapist Collaborative Couples Therapist trained by Dan Wile, extensively trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy, Certified Level 2 in Gottman Method Therapy, Certified Level 1 in PACT: Psychobiological Couples Therapy
- Family Therapist Structural Family Therapist trained at the Minuchin Center for Family Therapy, Trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Families (EFFT), Approved Parent Coordinator with Affiliation of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC). Experienced in residential treatment, crisis centers and psychiatric hospitals and expertise in attachment-based trauma
- Sex Therapist Certified by the Institute for Relational Intimacy specializing in chronic illness, sexuality of aging and low desire discrepancy, as well as transgender couples therapy
- Emotionally Focused Therapist with extensive training for over a decade
- Nationally Certified Counselor individually licensed in New York, Florida, and Virginia
- Board Diplomate Clinical Mental Health Counseling American Mental Health Counseling Association
- Board Diplomate Trauma Counseling American Mental Health Counseling Association
- Board Diplomate Couples & Family Counseling American Mental Health Counseling Association
- Clinically Certified Mental Health Counselor CCMHC
- Certified Trauma Specialist State University of New York at Buffalo School of Social Work 2006
- Certified School Counselor in New York specialized in special education, play therapy, and childhood trauma
- Private Practitioner since 1998
- Clinical Professor on the faculty of the State University of New York at Buffalo in the department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology for 11 years before moving to Virginia.
- Provided training and consultation to agencies serving abused, neglected, and traumatized children and families, including foster parent organizations, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate), Child Protection workers, family courts, and schools.
- Elected Professional and Board Positions on local, state, and national professional counseling associations. Including Past President of the North Atlantic Region Association of Counselor Education and Supervision and Executive Committee member for the Association of Counseling Education Supervision.
- Proven expertise in extreme mood and personality disorders that arise from complex trauma and abuse.
- Extensive experience as a New York Supreme Court Family Mediator, Divorce Coach, Parent Coordinator. Served as expert witness in both criminal and family court.
- Presented regionally and nationally as well as being a frequent presenter at conferences, workshops, and trainings on topics such as child trauma, blended families, personal empowerment, high conflict divorce, traumatic effects of divorce and separation on children, LGBTQIA+ Couples Therapy, and effective therapeutic interventions.
- Conducted research on the incidence of PTSD in children from high conflict divorce families.
- Recognized Relationship and Mental Health Expert invited to speak at national and local conferences, podcasts, local news and radio as well as lead discussions at universities, companies, hospitals and wellness retreats.
Certified
- AMHCA Board Diplomate in Family and Couples Therapy
- AMHCA Board Diplomate Trauma & Crisis Counseling
- Heart Centered Hypnotherapist
- Family Constellation Facilitator
- Prepare-Enrich Certified Facilitator
- Certified Trauma Treatment Specialist
Additional Training
- EMDR Advanced Skills at the Parnell Institute
- Gottman Method Couple Therapy Levels I & II
- Institute for Relational Intimacy, Level 1 Certification towards becoming certified with The American Association of Sexuality Educators and Therapists
Memberships:
- EMDRIA – Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing International Association
- AASECT – American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists
- ICEEFT – International Center for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy
- WPATH – World Professional Association for Transgender Health
- ACA – American Counseling Association
- AMHCA – American Mental Health Counseling Association
- ATSS – Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists
- ITTI: International Trauma Training Institute
“Healing begins with someone who will truly listen. I can help. I love what I do. And yes, I am very good at it.”
