Meet the therapist

Writing about myself is an awkward task, however, I understand that searching for a therapist you can trust can be a challenge in itself. Taking the first step and deciding to start therapy was an important decision you made, and you have to feel comfortable with the therapist you choose, otherwise, you may decide to quit therapy altogether because of one “bad” experience. I tell patients they have the right to “shop” for their therapist, because although many of us in the field of mental health have similar educational backgrounds and degrees, we all have our own style and our own approach.

I am a human being. I am a daughter. I am a sister. I am a mother. I am an employee. I am a supervisor. I am a pet owner. I have been a best friend. I have been a business owner. I have been a wife. I was a daddy’s girl before my father passed away. There are several sides to me, and different roles I stepped into throughout my life. All this to say, I have been living the human experience, as you have, and I know what it feels like to sit with a therapist that was not a good fit, and what it feels like to work with a therapist that helped me make the connections I needed to implement changes in my life. I will never say I know what it is like to walk in your shoes, but there are fundamental similarities between all people. For example, a broken heart, is a broken heart. The loss of a loved one is a language we all have to speak at some point in our lives. Anger is typically the first emotion that surfaces when we feel powerless. Strained relationships with family members happens from time to time. Wanting to be accepted and understood is like wanting to breathe without obstruction.

And then there is the underlying question of purpose. Many of us are trying to figure out what it is that will bring us real happiness and fulfillment. Many of us are asking ourselves, “Why am I here?”

My Approach

When we sit down together, I see you as a human being with so many moving parts, and my first goal is to get to know you. I want to hear your story, and I want to understand how you view the world and why you view it in the way you do. There is no judgment and no bias. Instead, I want you to feel heard, understood and validated. I want you to feel seen and I want to provide a safe space to speak your mind openly so that I can then provide my clinical expertise. I need to understand who you are so I can offer you the guidance that will prompt you to think through your decisions, and hopefully, to make the necessary connections between your past and how it has shaped you into the person you are. I want to help you consider your options, what is realistic, and what may be, perhaps, a distorted perception of reality. I do tend to take a “keep it real” approach, which I have found most patients have an appreciation for. Our goal will be to help you discover something new about yourself and to get closer to being the person you want to grow into and become.

My Experience

I completed my bachelor’s degree in social work at Sacred Heart University, in Fairfield, CT, in 2005. In 2006, I completed my masters degree in social work at New York University. My internships during my studies were in juvenile detention working with at-risk you and two years at the Child Guidance Center of Fairfield County, working with children. Upon completing my degrees, I worked with survivors of domestic violence, and at risk youth. In 2011, I earned my professional license as a clinical social worker, while working with people in recovery from addiction and mental illness. This path allowed me the opportunity to discover my passion for working with individuals in the correctional system and am currently working as a Mental Health Clinical Director at a women’s correctional facility. Throughout the years, I have worked with patients who have been diagnosed with PTSD, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, substance dependence, borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder. I worked with couples and families who have wanted to work through issues of infidelity and abuse, and with individuals who were court mandated to complete anger management.

Additional fun facts

Aside from being a therapist, I am also a Reiki Master, and believe it is important to incorporate discussion of spirituality when it is of significance to the patient. For those who are open to energy healing, I offer additional tools such as chakra balancing and tarot interpretation. I also enjoy writing and have started an instagram with daily affirmations @justsaying.yourinstatherapist