Private practice therapist in Durham, NC

My Training

I am a licensed Clinical Social Worker (NC license #C006034). I have provided psychotherapy services in private practice, community, agency and university settings in the U.S. and abroad. I regularly attend workshops and seminars to continue my education as required by my licensing board.

License in Clinical Social Work  2008

Yoga Teacher certification  2007

MSW – UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Social Work  2004

MPH – UNC-Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Public Health  2004

B.S.-Psychology – Birmingham-Southern College  1999

My Approach

I employ an integrated psychotherapy approach to meet the needs of my clients. I believe that the brain and body naturally want to move toward healthier and more adaptive functioning. An integrated approach incorporates appropriate, research-supported techniques and frameworks to conceptualize and treat a variety of presenting problems. I conceptualize my clients’ presenting problems from a solution-focused and strengths-based framework, and strive to create a non-judgmental and empathetic climate in my therapeutic relationships. I expect my clients to partner with me as part of a therapeutic team, to set their own goals and to give me feedback on the treatment, so that we make as much progress as possible.

Depending on the needs of each individual client, my approach can include elements of:

· CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)

· EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy)

· MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction)

· Yoga and Mindfulness Techniques

· ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)

At the end of the first session I will provide you with feedback and a suggested plan for collaborative treatment. If the therapeutic relationship feels like a good fit, we will work together as a “therapy team” to make treatment as efficient as possible. In the spirit of collaboration, I regularly use homework assignments to assist you in building new skills and improving your functioning in the areas of life in which you are struggling.  Therapy is not magic and it’s often not easy - but if we work collaboratively together, improved mental health and healthier relationships in a short period of time are reasonable expectations of treatment.

Interest Specialties

· Trauma Recovery

· Yoga and mindfulness for stress relief and physical health

· Sexual assault and abuse

· Sexual harassment

· Intimate partner violence

· Stalking

· Stress management

· Adjustment issues

· Young adult development

 

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

· EMDR International Association

· North Carolina Society for Clinical Social Work