About Me
I was born and raised in Long Island, New York. My passion for psychology emerged after I traveled to Joplin, Missouri, to help rebuild homes for survivors of the 2011 EF5 tornado. This experience sparked my calling to help individuals heal from their traumatic and stressful life experiences. In the many years since my relief work in Joplin, my love for psychology and helping others has only deepened. In 2018, I earned my bachelor’s degree in psychology at Long Island University and a year later, I earned my master’s degree in psychology at Stony Brook University. During my time in my master’s program and after I graduated, I had the privilege to directly work with responders to the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001. I deeply cherished working with this population, as I felt I was making a difference within my community and serving individuals who sacrificed their safety for others. My clinical and research experiences drove me to pursue a career in clinical psychology. In 2021, I enrolled in Northern Illinois University’s clinical psychology program, where I am currently a fourth-year Ph.D. student.
Therapeutic Approach
My goal in the therapy room is to uplift my clients’ strengths and build on their natural abilities. As such, I view the therapeutic relationship as a key factor in making progress and achieving goals. Together, we work towards exploring challenges in one’s life and developing effective coping strategies. I encourage the development of respect, open communication, and empathy in both my clients and myself, recognizing that I will grow alongside them. As a clinical psychologist in training, I strive to provide psychological services backed by research. I tend to take a cognitive-behavioral approach to therapy, which underscores the connections between one’s thoughts, emotions, and actions, and how these connections can often lead to distress. This approach allows me to tailor treatment to fit the unique needs of my clients and borrow from other theoretical orientations if appropriate.
I have experience working with individuals seeking therapy for a wide array of psychological and behavioral symptoms, including trauma, depression, anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, amongst others. I have also worked with adults experiencing complex psychological disorders in a community residence. While I typically work with individuals 18 and older, I have experience working with adolescents seeking psychological services.
