Areas of Specialty

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The loss of a parent or primary caregiver during childhood is a significant life experience that can shape a child’s emotional development, relationships, sense of security, and understanding of grief. Childhood bereavement can also continue to influence an individual into adolescence and adulthood, with grief sometimes taking on new meaning during different developmental stages and life transitions.

My clinical work includes supporting children and families navigating the loss of a parent or caregiver, as well as adults exploring the impact of childhood parental loss. My own personal and professional experiences with loss have given me a particularly nuanced understanding of childhood grief and the ways a significant loss can become part of an individual’s story and identity over time.

My training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), including a focus on childhood grief and bereavement, provides a framework for supporting children as they make sense of the loss of a parent or caregiver. Rather than expecting children to process grief in an adult way, I use developmentally appropriate strategies to help them express their emotions, understand changes in their family and daily life, work through difficult thoughts or fears, and build coping skills for navigating life after loss. I also work closely with caregivers to help them understand how grief may show up differently across childhood and create opportunities for children to feel supported, connected, and able to ask questions about their loss.

Perfectionism can serve us well until the standards we set for ourselves begin to come at a personal cost. High expectations, ambition, and a strong drive to succeed can be meaningful parts of who you are, while also creating intense internal pressure, difficulty tolerating mistakes, fear of disappointing others, or a feeling that there is always more you should be doing.

I work with individuals who are navigating these pressures within demanding personal and professional roles, including professional athletes, corporate leaders, executives, entrepreneurs, and other high-achieving professionals. I understand that these roles can come with real expectations and responsibilities that cannot simply be “turned off” or walked away from. 

Therapy does not have to be about lowering your ambitions or giving up the things you have worked hard to achieve. Instead, our work may focus on understanding the internal pressures that accompany achievement, managing stress and perfectionistic thinking, recognizing signs of burnout, strengthening relationships, and finding ways to pursue meaningful goals without losing yourself in the process. I especially enjoy working with people who have big goals and high expectations for themselves and want to explore how achievement, wellbeing, and a fulfilling life can coexist.

Do you find yourself reacting more intensely than you would like, becoming overwhelmed by strong emotions, or getting caught in recurring conflict with the people you care about? Perhaps you understand what you would like to do differently but find it difficult to access those skills in the moment. For some children, adolescents, and adults, intense emotions can affect relationships, school or work, and everyday functioning.

I work with individuals who experience challenges with emotion regulation, emotional intensity, impulsive reactions, interpersonal conflict, and difficulty recovering after emotionally charged situations. Drawing from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and other evidence-based approaches, I help clients develop practical skills for understanding emotions, tolerating distress, communicating effectively, and responding rather than reacting.

I particularly enjoy working with deeply-feeling individuals who may have spent years being told they are “too sensitive,” “too emotional,” or “too much.” Our work can focus on building greater emotional awareness and flexibility while honoring the depth and sensitivity that are meaningful parts of who you are.