About Me

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice in Westport, Connecticut. I work with adults, couples, and families, and also provide training and consultation to other professionals and the community.

I specialize in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), an evidence-based behavioral therapy that helps people develop greater psychological flexibility. Rather than making the elimination of difficult thoughts and emotions the primary goal, ACT focuses on helping people respond more effectively to life's challenges while moving toward what matters most to them.

While I focus more on the person than the diagnosis, my areas of expertise include anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), trauma and PTSD, impulsive and compulsive behaviors, relationship concerns, and mood disorders. I also work with parents and families navigating anxiety, OCD, avoidant and restrictive eating, and challenges related to increasing independence.

My approach is collaborative, active, and guided by ongoing assessment. Rather than relying on a single treatment model for every client, I draw from several evidence-based therapies and tailor treatment to each person's goals, circumstances, and response to therapy. Depending on the concerns that bring someone to treatment, our work may include learning new skills, approaching situations that have been avoided, practicing different ways of responding to difficult thoughts and emotions, or addressing interpersonal patterns that no longer serve them.

I believe effective therapy requires both scientific rigor and genuine curiosity. Every person brings a unique history, relationships, strengths, and challenges, and treatment should reflect that complexity rather than follow a predetermined formula.

I continue to study, seek consultation, and refine my practice because I believe providing high-quality care requires ongoing learning. Therapy is an ongoing process of observation, practice, and adjustment, and I strive to approach that process with humility, careful assessment, and a commitment to providing care that is grounded in research and responsive to the individual.

I have completed specialized training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with ACT treatment developers and other leaders in the field. I continue to participate in ongoing professional consultation to refine my work and remain current with developments in ACT and evidence-based practice. I currently consult with ACT trainer and author Robyn Walser, PhD.

I have advanced training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD through the University of Pennsylvania's Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety.

I have also completed specialized training in Prolonged Exposure (PE) and DBT Prolonged Exposure (DBT-PE) for PTSD and other trauma-related conditions.

My background includes extensive training and experience in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). I was among the first five therapists in Connecticut to become board certified in DBT and previously developed comprehensive DBT programs in both private and community settings. While I no longer provide a comprehensive DBT program, the behavioral principles and clinical strategies of DBT continue to inform my work.

I am also trained in Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE), an evidence-based treatment that helps parents and caregivers respond more effectively to childhood and adolescent anxiety, OCD, avoidant and restrictive eating, and challenges related to increasing independence.

Before entering private practice, I was a Senior Clinician at the Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Health, where I provided individual psychotherapy, led DBT skills groups for adolescents and adults, supervised other clinicians, and co-developed and implemented a DBT skills program for Stamford Public Schools.

Earlier in my career, I worked at Family Services of Westchester and the Child Guidance Center of Mid-Fairfield County, where I developed comprehensive DBT programs for adolescents and families experiencing severe emotion dysregulation and high-risk behaviors.

My experience also includes treating eating disorders at the residential level of care and working with adults experiencing severe and persistent mental illness in an inpatient psychiatric setting.

I earned my Master of Social Work in Advanced Clinical Practice, summa cum laude, from Columbia University, where I received the Judith Holm Memorial Award for Excellence in Preparation for Clinical Practice. I completed my graduate clinical training in psychiatric social work at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital's Westchester Division.

Prior to entering the mental health field, I earned a Master of Arts in Literature from New York University.