I believe that people enter psychotherapy because the ways in which they have been managing their pain are no longer working: they have become disconnected from their true sense of self and no longer feel authentic. My goal as a therapist is to help you to claim a deeper level of self-understanding, genuine intimacy with others, and a sense of purpose and agency in life.
Change can be difficult simply because we fear the unknown. A relationship with a therapist can provide a place of acceptance and safety from which to explore new ways of thinking and behaving. My approach is collaborative, engaged, and empathetic, and I am mindful of the impact of individual and collective trauma, including racial and cultural injustice. My theoretical background is psychodynamic, and I incorporate techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and mindfulness-based approaches.
I have a doctorate in clinical psychology from George Washington University. I did my practicum training at Howard University Counseling Service and completed an internship with the Wichita Collaborative Psychology Internship Program. I completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Princeton University Counseling and Psychological Services.
I was born and raised in the DMV and now live in Maryland with my partner. I identify as white, cisgender, and gay. In prior careers, I have been a professional singer and a federal employee at the Library of Congress.
Location: Silver Spring Office
My specialty areas include:
· Career burnout
· Student concerns (academic stress, social isolation)
· Stage of life issues (quarterlife, midlife)
· LGBTQ issues
· ADHD
· Individuals working in the arts
Experience with:
· Trauma/PTSD
· Autism spectrum
· Mood disorders
· Personality disorders