she/her

PARTNER

CLINICAl DIreCTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY

PSychology Supervisor

LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST (Psy.D.) in Maryland, Virginia, DC, & DELAWARE, and with Authority to practice interjurisdictional telepsychology Granted by the PSYPACT® COmmission

I am a licensed psychologist and have worked in private practice since 2010. This has given me extensive experience as a clinical director, evaluator, therapist, parent coach, and supervisor. I provide individual, group, and family therapy for clients of all ages, along with attachment-based parent coaching and couples therapy for those exploring neurodiversity within their relationship.

As Clinical Director of Psychology & Psychology Supervisor, I support our psychological clinical staff to ensure that our therapy and testing are empathic, strengths-based, affirming, culturally competent, trauma-informed, and anchored in up to date, evidenced-based neuroscientific and psychological research.

My primary focus is on helping clients and supervisees affirmingly navigate neurodiversity. I would love to help support your well-being and relationships by exploring your neurotype. Self-identified individuals, as well as those formally diagnosed or seeking clinical diagnosis are welcome. I also frequently support neurotypical individuals navigating daily life, with its many ups, downs, and daily stressors.

What does my experience mean for you as my therapy client?

In therapy, we’ll work together to build a nurturing, supportive, honest, and empathic interpersonal therapeutic relationship. The support I offer is based in attachment and the relational neurosciences, so our dynamic is very important! First and foremost, I want to help you feel safe and comfortable.

We’ll meet ‘in the moment’ to help identify your specific needs, strengths, vulnerabilities, and goals. If it feels helpful to you, I’m happy to collaborate with family members, and other members of your support system (like teachers, tutors, other therapists, and doctors).

Our work together will be guided by your needs and wants, regardless of how old you are. I am here for you! My job is to listen, get curious, and never to judge - whether you are here for support as a child, an adult, or a parent!

I have training in a number of modalities. If they feel supportive to you, we’ll incorporate them into therapy. For example, we might use tools and techniques from ACT, psychodynamic therapy, play therapy, talk therapy, expressive arts (e.g., art, music), Self-Compassion therapy, or Mindfulness. We’ll also actively incorporate your interests and strengths to guide our therapy​. I want to know what makes your heart sing!

You are the expert on yourself, and my role is to help you reach your goals, identify your values, leverage your strengths and interests, understand your support needs, and embrace who you are as a unique individual. The same is true if you are a child!

We may explore the past, we’ll look to the future, and we’ll do the work together in the moment.

What does my experience mean for testing clients?

At PTC, I supervise all of our testing. Testing providers and I will work together to design personalized assessments for clients of all ages and demographics, including adults seeking to understand their neurotype. I am trained in understanding how neurodivergence may present differently based on gender and cultural factors. With this in mind, testing batteries, reports, and recommendations are carefully designed to keep in mind the intersectional factors impacting you.

When testing, my approach is highly individualized. I seek to understand & support each ‘whole’ person, providing recommendations for every aspect of daily life. The testing providers and I work together to understand, integrate, and explain educational, social-emotional, cognitive, and adaptive strengths and vulnerabilities to support each client. Additionally, since direct interaction and observation are crucial for fully understanding each client, I make sure that each testing provider works with their client for the duration of the testing process.

Prior to returning to school for my doctorate, I spent four years as an elementary school teacher, and summers before that as a camp counselor. I’m also a Mom, which is pretty much how I spend my time when I’m not working. My experience in the classroom, on the fields, and as a parent helps me to craft realistic recommendations for every setting. ​

Want to know more about me as a person?

In my free time, I enjoy managing my husband’s music career, exercising, reading, drawing, writing, traveling, preparing vegetarian food, volunteering and advocating for animal rescue groups, and spending time with my husband, son, and dog. Fall is my favorite time of the year, and sunshine makes me sneeze when I first go outside every morning. I love to be outside and nothing makes me happier than animals and nature. Music makes me feel all the feelings. Super tight hugs make me happy. And, although I want to love perfume and other strong smells, my sensory sensitivity makes it nearly impossible to be around them. Similarly, I hate the feel of newspaper, remove every single tag from my clothes, and nearly jump out of my seat if someone uses a pencil with a dull eraser to erase!

Services Provided

• Therapy with children (3+), teens, adults, families, couples, and groups

• Parent Training & Consultation

• Educational Consultation

• Supervision & Consultation for therapy & testing for psychologists, psychology associates, doctoral students, counseling students, and LGPCs, with a particular focus on neurodiversity affirming therapy & testing

• Speaking Engagements

• Advocacy (attending 504/IEP meetings)

• Consultations for next steps and testing review

• Comprehensive Evaluation (Psychoeducational, Neuropsychological, Psychological, Developmental, Autism, ADHD, Social-Emotional, Giftedness/2E, and Admissions) with children (3+), teens, and adults

Expertise

• Neurodiversity Affirming Care

• Attachment-Based Parenting

• Autism (including PDA)

• ADHD

• Executive Functioning

• Learning Differences & Disabilities

• Giftedness and 2E

• Developmental Differences

• Emotional and Behavioral Functioning (Anxiety, Depression, Mood, Adjustment, Self-Esteem, Anger Management, etc.)

• Coping Skills

• Self-Compassion

• School Support

• LGBTQ+ Support

• Navigating the Ups and Downs of Life

• Stress Management

• Aging

• Navigating Illness

• Navigating Relationships (e.g., friendships, romantic relationships, family relationships)

Frequently Asked Questions…

• What is your favorite color?

  • Blue or maybe Periwinkle

• What are your favorite books?

  • This is a hard one because I read A LOT and enjoy most of what I read. My absolute favorites are The Little Prince, The Alchemist, 100 Years of Solitude, Things Fall Apart, Ishmael, Stardust, the His Dark Materials series, the Thirst series, and the The Mortal Instruments series, along with all of the spinoffs from the latter.

• Do you have any kids?

  • I do! I have one elementary age son and a fur baby.

• You said you love music. Are you musical?

  • I’m great at singing along! Once I hear my own voice on a mic, I get a little lost. I leave the instruments and the microphone singing to my son and my husband.

• Why did you decide to be a therapist?

  • When I was a camp counselor, the kids used to tell me that I would make a good child psychologist. I always wanted to help people, so I took their advice to heart!

  • I am also a teacher at heart. I LOVE to educate (and learn), so that’s why I supervise too!

The Nitty-Gritty Details

Education

GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
Doctorate in Professional Psychology (2008)

(APA approved internship at The Institute for Child & Family Health in Miami, FL)

BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY
B.A., Magna Cum Laude in Sociology & Certificate in Education (2000)

Professional Affiliations

American Psychology Association (APA)

Maryland Psychology Association (MPA)

The National Register of Health Service Psychologists

WISER

MCPS Special Education Committee

Partnership for Extraordinary Minds (xMinds)

Washington Interdisciplinary Neurodiversity Group (WING)

NeuroVisible - Board Member

Credentials

Licensed Psychologist, Maryland, #04748 (2010), Maryland Board of Examiners of Psychologists

Licensed Psychologist, Delaware, #B1-0011285 (2021), Delaware Board of Examiners of Psychologists

Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Commonwealth of Virginia, #0810004429 (2011), Virginia Board of Psychology

Licensed Psychologist, Washington, D.C., #PSY1001640 (2020), DC Board of Psychology

Board-Approved LGPC Supervisor, REF #3307, Maryland Board of Professional Counselors

Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology (APIT) under the PSYPACT®* Commission E. Passport issued 6/14/21 Mobility Number#8206