she/her/hers

Licensed In: New York and registered for telehealth in Florida

Education & Training:

• Master’s in Social Work with Mental Health Focus – CUNY Hunter College
• Bachelor’s in Psychology with a minor in Women & Gender Studies – CUNY Hunter College
• Specialized Coursework in Trauma-Informed care – taught by Dr. Martha Bragin at CUNY Hunter College

Specialties:

I specialize in working with individuals who have experienced health-related trauma, whether from chronic illness, medical procedures, or unexpected health crises that have changed the quality of life for the individual. Recognizing and working through the emotional impact of life-changing health experiences can be overwhelming, often resulting in feelings of fear, loss, disappointment, confusion, anger, loneliness or uncertainty.

I work with clients who are searching for ways to voice the reality of how they have been affected, to develop self-compassion, and to acknowledge the validity of their own needs for care and emotional support. Adapting to the changes of a new health reality can be disillusioning and there might be limitations which are challenging to accept. My approach can offer clients a place to safely openly confront fears, appreciate the significance behind their chosen paths to wellness, and explore strategies to approach their illness from an empowered perspective.

Through compassionate support, I help clients understand their experiences from their own perspective, manage the emotional weight of their medical history, and feel more prepared to communicate their needs.

Clinical Style & Theoretical Orientation:

I take a direct approach by taking an active role in sessions to increase self-awareness and support meaningful change. I integrate Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Narrative Therapy, and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help clients process the emotional impact of health-related trauma and reclaim a sense of agency.

DBT provides practical skills for managing overwhelming emotions, reducing medical anxiety, and building distress tolerance in the face of ongoing health challenges. Narrative Therapy helps clients reframe their experiences, separating their identity from their diagnosis or medical history, allowing them to develop a new self-narrative. IFS supports clients in exploring the internal emotional conflicts that may arise from their health journey by helping them acknowledge and understand the different parts of themselves.

By combining these approaches, I help clients regain an expanded understanding of themselves, develop coping strategies, and move forward with greater emotional awareness.

Lived Identity:

• Clinician with lived experience managing generalized anxiety disorder
• Personal experience with intercultural, interfaith, and interracial relationships
• Fully Public School Educated in NYS schools
• Personal experience in living with chronic physical illness
• Lifelong New Yorker

Personal Interests:

Cooking, weight lifting, watching TV shows, spending time with friends & family, exploring cultural/ethnic supermarkets, and listening to podcasts & audiobooks

Insurance:

• Aetna
• Blue Cross (New York commercial plans only, accepted via Headway)
• Cigna/Evernorth
• Fidelis Care
• Meritain Health
• United/Oxford/Optum
• Out-of-network (billed through Thrizer)