Counseling and
Psychotherapy
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Clinical mental health counseling:
"the application of principles of psychotherapy, human
development, learning theory, group dynamics, and the etiology
of mental illness and dysfunctional behavior to individuals,
couples, families and groups, for the purpose of promoting
optimal mental health, dealing with normal problems
of living and treating psychopathology” (AMHCA, 2023).
Focused Areas of Clinical Care:
transitions and life changes
emotional support & insight development
LGBTQ+ affirming therapy
social- and self-awareness
grief and bereavement
interpersonal challenges
emerging/young adult issues
academic and career exploration
political distress and social [in]justice
existential concerns
identity development and personal growth
depressive disorders (major, persistent, seasonal) and subclinical depression
anxiety disorders (generalized, social, separation) and subclinical anxiety, adjustment disorder
General Areas of Clinical Care:
mental health evaluations and diagnosis
social identity exploration & anti-racism
obsessive-compulsive disorder
illness anxiety disorder
neurodivergence [ADHD/ ASD]
suicidal ideation
cultural conflict & identity dynamics
spirituality (development, transition, & disaffiliation)
prolonged grief disorder
stress management
trauma & stressor related disorders
My Approach:
I love being a counselor and deeply enjoy psychotherapy, but my enthusiasm is blended with a naturally gentle demeanor, dedication to critical consciousness, commitment to social justice, and reverence for the concerns and experiences that each person brings to our work together. An effective therapeutic relationship creates an experience of being understood and of belonging, while also uncovering strategies for healing and growth through self-discovery, meaning-making, relationship connections, and empowerment for social change. I approach our collaboration with warmth, respectful curiosity, and an integrative style that draws methods from several theories of counseling and psychotherapy, depending on the interests and needs of each person. I appreciate the counseling relationship as a growth-mechanism itself, emotion as a source of information and as a therapeutic process, and collaborative constructions of meaning and insight that mobilize strengths. I work to understand individual, interpersonal, cultural, and political contexts of “presenting concerns” to destigmatize mental health, identify therapeutic and advocacy needs, and help individuals empower themselves for a variety of purposes.
Theoretical Frameworks (that can inform our process):
Pluralist-contextual understanding with:
Relational-cultural theory
phenomenology & humanism
social– and critical– psychoanalytic theories
existential and post-existentialism
intersubjective-systems theory & self psychology
social constructivist
systems/ systemic theories
critical theory
Therapy Modalities (that we can use in practice):
Integrative use of:
Relational-cultural therapy (RCT)
Person-centered therapy
Existential psychotherapy
Contemporary psychodynamic therapy
Intersectional-feminist therapy
Emotion-focused therapy (EFT; aka process-experiential therapy)
Discursive therapies
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Mentalization
Psychoeducation
Solution-focused & possibility therapies
Links to Service Directories:
Pennsylvania Counseling Co-Operative
Open Path Psychotherapy Collective
Secular Therapy Project (forthcoming)
Online Therapy Directory (forthcoming)
"Care and responsibility are constituent elements of love, but without respect for and knowledge of the beloved person, love deteriorates into domination and possessiveness"
(Fromm, 1956, p. 24).
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