Hello! I am happy you’ve come to look for support.  I am a Licensed Master’s Social Worker in the state of Michigan.  I provide online therapy (sometimes called telehealth, telemental health, or teletherapy).  It is traditional therapy, with the bonus of being in the comfort of your own personal space.

My personal approach is to meet you where you are.  You’re the expert on yourself.  I simply use evidenced-based practices and my experience to help guide you in discovering what treatment goals you have for yourself, and how to accomplish them.  Each of us has a different idea of what the “perfect” life is.  I am here to help.

It is important to share more about who I am, and I will, but it is important to also be clear about who I am not.  I am not a friend, but your biggest advocate.  I am not here to tell you what to do but guide you to finding the answers within yourself.  I am not a mind reader, but an objective person to help sort through uncomfortable and overwhelming thoughts and feelings.

It is expected to have a variety of feelings about therapy.  It can be a scary process and finding someone that is a good fit for you is the most important thing.  Without a relationship of trust, understanding, openness, and nonjudgmentalness nothing else matters.  My education and experience won’t matter if we are not a good fit for each other.  Asking yourself “will she understand?” “can she really help?” “is she going to judge me?” and many other questions is normal.

I bring my authentic self to our sessions.  That means my compassion, my dedication, my personal and professional experience, my personality.  I will invest as much energy as you do into the process of therapy.  I will highlight patterns in behaviors and thoughts.  I will challenge you. I will provide kind and direct observations about things.  I believe in psychoeducation, and hope you are able to learn things about how our brains work.  I believe in education on how our environment influences who we are as people.  I will ask questions, and encourage you to do the same.  If you don’t understand something, I want you to ask. I encourage you to tell me what is and isn’t working for you.  My goal in working with people is not to create dependence, but teach you the skills and strategies you need to live your life.

As for education and experience, I earned my Master of Social Work degree, specializing in Interpersonal Practice, from the University of Michigan in 2013. I have worked with children, adolescents, adults, and families on a variety of subjects including depression/anxiety, stress, motivation/self-esteem/confidence, anger management, Autism, behavior management, and focus.  I have worked in schools, domestic violence shelter, and provided individual therapy.