How do you determine therapy goals with clients? What does that process look like?
The person who is looking for help is in the driver's seat while developing treatment goals. My job is to help in the process of identifying the problem or problems,
Are there any recurring themes or issues you’ve noticed as you treat people in your area of specialization, and how has this insight guided your approach?
Most people have experienced some type of trauma in their lives. Depending on the severity and extent, trauma can shape relationships, responses to stress, and how people feel about themselves. This is not something unique to any one population or socioeconomic group. Teachers, nurses, doctor's lawyers, and other professionals may have the drive and determination to achieve career goals and success, but also could be struggling in other areas of their lives, chalking it up to the demands or stress of their professions. Parents with a job and kids might struggle to communicate when angry, leading to further conflict and strained relationships. A lot of people push any problems or struggles they have off on normal stressors or responsibilities. The first step in changing something is acknowledging it is a problem. And that can be a difficult first step for many people who feel protective of themselves or struggle to be open to the idea that things can be different. Too often, people express feeling like things are "good enough", or that their problems are not any different than what other people experience. And I see that there is not a lot of hope that ingrained patterns can change. When people realize that there is meaning behind their reactions and difficulties; they feel empowered to make changes. The adage that you can't teach an old dog new tricks does not apply to healing from a history of trauma. Science shows that the brain can create new pathways and with repeated use of tools and skills learned in therapy, gaining better control over emotions is a very real possibility. When trauma happens during key developmental periods in our lives, it can disrupt healthy responses to stress, leaving us feeling out of control or overwhelmed when confronted with real or perceived threats to our well-being. This includes getting the side-eye, having someone cut you off in their car, or being left out of social events. The brain does not differentiate between what is a big deal, and what is best les
Specialties
Anxiety
Anxiety can mean nervousness, worry, or self-doubt. Anxiety disorder is a mental health disorder that entails excessive, repeated bouts of worry, anxiety, and/or fear.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is a condition that is precipitated by a perceived terrifying event. This event need not occur directly to the person but may happen vicariously—having seen something terrible happen to another person. The condition may last months or years while symptoms include ruminating thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares, intense anxiety when triggered, and potential substance abuse in attempt to cope.
Stress
Distress stems from a subjective perception of something being unwanted, undesirable, or detrimental to your wellbeing. Excessive stress significantly impairs mental and physical health and is associated with many diseases and conditions.
Trauma
Trauma is the result of experiencing a perceived, extremely distressful event. Although the stress threshold for each person differs, meaning that each person considers and experiences trauma differently, it is an event that tops one’s threshold. It exceeds one’s ability to cope or emotionally process. Symptoms may include shock, anxiety, confusion, hopelessness, feeling disconnected, mood swings, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts.
Behavioral Issues
Behavioral disorders involve a pattern of disruptive behaviors that cause problems in school, at home, and in social situations. Can include hyperactivity, impulsivity, defiant behavior, chronic patterns of aggression, defiance, disruption, and/or hostility.
General Expertise
Work Stress
Workplace issues are a common source of stress and can include interpersonal conflict, communication problems, gossip, harassment, discrimination, low motivation and job satisfaction, performance issues, and poor job fit.
Self-Esteem
Self-esteem is the degree to which a person feels confident, valuable, and worthy of respect. Feeling low self-esteem can influence overall well-being and be linked to anxiety and/or depression.
Adolescent mental health
Adolescent mental health focuses on adolescent-specific experiences including physical and cognitive development, social and environmental factors, sex, sexual identification and orientation, emotional processing, and substance use. Given the influence that parents/guardians have on adolescents, home life is a particularly important consideration.
Caregiver stress & support
Caring for a friend or family member (paid or unpaid) includes emotional support, housework, help with finances, medication management, and shopping. Can be stressful, making caregivers more vulnerable to things like anxiety, isolation, and fatigue.
Child mental health
Children can be impacted by things like anxiety, depression, ADHD and more. However, they can be difficult to identify because kids aren’t always able to communicate effectively. Untreated, child mental health issues can have long-term effects.
Fees
$100
First Session
$100
Family Therapy
$100
Couples Therapy
$80
Individual Therapy
Types of Therapy
Family Session
Individual Session
Clientele
Parents
Young Adults (18-24)
Adults (25-65)
Adolescents (13-17)
Treatment Approaches / Modalities
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Mindfulness Practices
Strength Based Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Motivational Interviewing
Person-Centered Therapy
Positive Psychology
Psychodynamic Therapy
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Training / Certifications
National Child Traumatic Stress Network: Certified Trainer: Think Trauma: Training for Staff Working in Mental Health Settings.
New York State Office of Mental Health: Certified Trainer: Partnering for Safety .
New York State Office of Mental Health: Certified Trainer: Trauma and Recovery 101
Licensure
NY, LCSW, 087473
Education
Master's Degree, Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago
BA, Fordham University
Work History
I started working in social services in 2003 as a child protective investigator in the state of Florida. After realizing that there was more I could do to help with a degree, I went back to school and got my Social Work Master's Degree. During my master's program, I spent a summer at the London School of Economics. While there, I was linked to mental health and child-serving agencies and I was offered a job in the United Kingdom when I graduated. Working in a different country was an eye-opening experience and one I believe helped shape my professional ethics and values. Although it was a rewarding experience, I decided to move back to the United States and worked in a psychiatric crisis evaluation program at a local emergency department. This position offered me the opportunity to have experience working with different populations, gaining a better grasp on diagnosis and treatment, and finding ways to communicate during crises. From there, I spent four years in a maximum-security prison. As a social worker. I worked with inmates in the Special Housing Unit, and with the seriously mentally ill as part of their release from prison. This was truly a unique opportunity and what led me towards the path of becoming Trauma Informed. It was rare to meet an inmate without a history of trauma. Each of their lives was shaped by their experiences. Ultimately, I decided to work towards helping people resolve their histories of trauma, and work to create new ways of working through problems and managing stress. For the past seven years, I have worked with adolescents and their families. Sometimes it is individual, other sessions are family therapy. I have found that many of the parents I work with have their own histories of trauma that lead them to inadvertently repeat patterns from their childhoods. My focus now is on helping adults who may not realize the impact their experiences and interactions have had on their relationships, emotions, and responses to stress.
Location
..., Binghamton, 13901, NY