I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC). Since entering the mental health field, I have worked with individuals and groups across the lifespan and have particularly enjoyed working with young adults. I have always enjoyed being of service to others and am grateful to have found a profession that is so personally meaningful to me. Those who know me would describe me as kind, open-minded, and conscientious.

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My priority as a clinician is to encourage development of trust and mutual respect with my clients. I believe a positive therapeutic relationship is a key component to one’s success in therapy, as it allows clients to feel safe in honestly expressing themselves. While I enjoy providing the tools and space for my clients to grow, I find purpose in helping each of my clients recognize and better utilize their own personal strengths.

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Much of my training is in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), but I also enjoy exploration of attachment, systems, and psychodynamic concepts with my clients. I encourage regular feedback about my therapeutic style, as I want to adapt to best fit my clients’ preferences and needs. I specialize in treating mood and anxiety disorders, life transitions, grief, women’s issues, and relationship issues. 

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Counseling is a vocational change for me, as I originally intended to work in the environmental education field. I completed my Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Conservation at Juniata College and worked full-time as a zoo keeper and presenter at AZA-accredited zoos until 2018. While I loved the work, the lifestyle that went along with it led me to reconsider my longevity in the field. I began my Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Messiah University, where I completed field placements in private practice and college counseling settings. Following my graduation, I worked full-time for a community mental health agency in Pennsylvania, and later a partial hospitalization program after relocating to Virginia in the summer of 2021. 

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In my spare time, I enjoy the companionship of my pets, spending time outside, or trying a new restaurant with my husband. I also love activities that involve my imagination or creativity, including reading fiction, crafting, or DIY projects. I am currently trying to teach myself how to watercolor.