If you had asked 16-year-old me if I would ever be a therapist, I would have laughed in your face. When I later did decide to become a therapist, I set out to be the kind of person teenage me would have talked to. I work to create an intentionally anti-racist, gender-and-sexuality affirming, neurodiversity-affirming, body-positive space. I work in a very client centered, strengths-based, solution-focused manner, with the goal of helping clients heal as quickly as they are able. Because you've got more exciting things to do with your life than be in therapy.
I help you to understand the “why” of emotions and behavior, both your own and others’. Sessions often involve discussing the greater society in which we live and the impact it has on emotional and physical health. Initially trained as an art therapist, I pull from a variety of therapeutic strategies, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), feminist therapy, parts work, and strengths-based therapy.
My practice focuses on adolescents, young adults, and the LGBTQIA community. I do not work with children under age 10. I frequently assist with gender transition and am competent in writing letters of support for gender affirming care. I believe that my clients are the experts on their own experience, and my role is to help them explore and accept themselves as they are, while addressing and resolving patterns and emotional responses that are causing them distress.
I have over 15 years of experience working clinically with teens and young adults. Prior to joining a group practice in 2014, I worked as a school-based therapist in high schools in Boston, and Schenectady, and have also worked as a clinician within the juvenile justice system in Massachusetts. I started my solo practice in Ballston Spa in 2020.
Education and Credentials
- Lesley University, MA Expressive Therapies and Mental Health Counseling, Concentration in Art Therapy 2007
- NY LMHC #004920
Therapeutic Approaches
- Feminist Therapy
- Parts Work
- Strength-based
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Creative arts therapy
- Solution-focused
- Family therapy
- Attachment Resiliency Competency (ARC)
Areas of Focus
- Depression
- Anxiety
- ADHD
- Perfectionism
- Self-esteem
- Body-image
- Bullying
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Complex and familial trauma
- Sexuality
- Gender identity and transition support
- Parent-child conflict
- Adjustment to new school or new situations
Services
Individual and Family Therapy
Sessions take place in my office in a handicap-accessible building with ample off-street parking, or via the HIPAA compliant telehealth platform Doxy.me. Per New York State regulations, clients must be physically present in New York during telehealth sessions. Limited evening and Saturday hours are available.
Due to being a single-person practice, I do not maintain a formal waitlist. If I am not taking new clients when you call, please call back in 2-3 months.
Initial sessions involve completing intake paperwork (if not completed via TherapyPortal prior to session), a review of office policies, and confidentiality and then a comprehensive interview where we explore the history of the presenting problem, as well as an assessment of school, work, and family life. If a client is under 18, a parent or guardian must be present at initial session to sign paperwork and give background information. Regular parent/guardian check-ins are encouraged for clients under 18, and required for clients under 14.
Mental Health Counseling self-pay rates:
$165 for 60-minute intake session.
$150 for 60-minute session.
Income-based sliding scale available.
Payment Options: Cash, Check, Major Credit Card
Insurances Accepted:
Contact me for more information or questions about insurance. Clients are responsible for verifying their insurance information prior to session.
Other Services: Presentations, Parent Coaching and Consulting
As an extension of my work with individuals and families, I am sharing my expertise in other ways.
Parent-Focused Programs
I have developed two parent-focused programs: the first on the impact of teen stress and perfectionism, the second an “Ask A Teen Therapist” discussing normal teen development with an extended Q&A afterward. Please contact me if you are interested in me speaking to your organization or group. I am happy to present on teens, adolescent development, LGBTQUIA+ issues, and neurodiversity in therapy and in classrooms.
Parent Coaching
Structured sessions focused on helping parents of teens set boundaries around activities, manage their stress around achievement and the all-or-nothing narratives connected to college applications and long-term success. Coaching can be done in-person or online, and unlike therapy, can be utilized across state lines. Unfortunately, most insurances do not cover coaching services.
Consultation
I am available for professional consultation and supervision. Please contact me for availability and rates.
