Depth-focused therapy for women and young adults (17+)

Chances are, if you're reading this, there's probably a not-so-small part of you that already knows something needs to shift. Maybe you're tired of the constant mental chatter, the overthinking, the feeling like you're just going through the motions. Or maybe you're staring down a big life change - starting college, entering the workforce, getting married, becoming a parent - and the anxiety feels heavier than it should.

Therapy isn't just for crisis moments. It's for anyone who wants to understand themselves better, break old patterns that aren't working anymore, and create a life that actually feels good - not just manageable. If you're curious about why you are the way you are, if you want to dig deeper than just surface-level advice, and if you're ready to do the real work of healing and growth, then therapy might be exactly what you need right now.

Here's the thing: your friends are amazing (or at least, I hope they are). They love you, they support you, they listen. But therapy offers something different - and honestly, something more.

When you talk to a friend, you get advice, validation, or someone to vent to. And that’s all great stuff.

When you work with me, you get a trained professional who helps you connect the dots between your past and present, recognize patterns you can't see on your own, and access the answers that are already within you.

I'm not here to tell you what to do or give you a pep talk (well, ok, sometimes I’ll do the pep-talk thing). I'm here to help you understand the "why" behind your anxiety, your reactions, your relationship patterns - and then guide you toward lasting change.

Think of it like sitting with your best friend, except I'm the best friend who’s trained to ask the deep questions, make those lightbulb moment connections, and help you unlock what's already inside you so you can finally move forward.

Don’t worry, though, I’ll still bring my humor and occasional sarcasm, too.

For in-person sessions, I see clients at my office in a beautifully restored barn in Southport, CT. It's a warm, private space designed to help you feel comfortable and at ease during our work together.

I also offer virtual sessions via secure telehealth for clients throughout Connecticut, as well as in Vermont and South Carolina where I'm also licensed. Virtual therapy can be a great option if you prefer the comfort of your own space, have a busy schedule, or live outside the Southport area.

We can discuss which format feels like the best fit for you during our free consultation.

Starting therapy doesn't have to feel overwhelming - I've designed the process to be as simple and comfortable as possible.

First, reach out to schedule a free 15-minute consultation. This is a no-pressure conversation where we can talk about what you're experiencing, what you're hoping to get out of therapy, and whether we're a good fit to work together. I want you to feel comfortable and confident in your choice, and this consultation helps us both determine if my approach aligns with what you need. And I’ll be honest if I feel as though I’m not the right fit for you - I strongly believe you deserve the therapist who will be the perfect match for you.

If we decide to move forward, we'll schedule your first appointment. Before we meet, I'll send you some paperwork to complete - all the standard intake forms that check the administrative boxes and help me understand your history and what brought you to therapy.

Then we'll dive in together and get started on the work.

Once we begin working together, we'll typically meet for weekly 50-minute sessions. Some clients like the consistency of a standing appointment at the same time each week, while others prefer to schedule session-by-session. We'll figure out what works best for your life and schedule.

As for what happens in session? Expect depth. Expect warmth. Expect to feel heard, seen, and understood in a way that might surprise you. I bring a sense of humanness and authenticity to our work together - I'm not the blank-slate therapist sitting in silence taking notes, I’m not the therapist who will obsessively ask you where you “feel that in your body,” and I’m not the therapist who will repeatedly ask “and how did that make you feel?” I'm engaged, present, real and fully with you in the process.

We'll explore the patterns and experiences that shaped you, unpack the anxiety that's been weighing on you, and work through the changes and challenges you're facing. I will call out BS when I see it, I will crack a joke, I will celebrate your wins (possibly with an excited shriek), I will listen to all the tea (and remember to ask for an update on it next session), and I will craft the perfect metaphor to bring life to the point I’m making or the feeling you’re describing.

I use a combination of approaches - including psychodynamic therapy, CBT, REBT, EMDR, and ART - but I tailor everything to your unique needs and goals. This isn't cookie-cutter therapy. It's personalized, collaborative work designed specifically for you.

I don't believe in one-size-fits-all therapy, because your story, struggles and strengths are uniquely yours. Every person who walks into my office (or logs into our virtual session) has a unique story, unique struggles, and unique strengths. That's why I draw from multiple therapeutic modalities to create an approach that's tailored specifically to you.

I'm trained in psychodynamic therapy, which helps us explore how your past experiences influence your present-day patterns. Using my psychodynamic training, I will help you to make connections you never saw coming, and we’ll have lightbulb moments that feel like the whole room just lit up.

I also use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) to address unhelpful thought patterns and beliefs. These strategies are where we’ll identify ways of thinking that have been keeping you stuck and make tiny shifts that make monumental change.

For clients dealing with trauma or distressing memories, or who just feel stuck after trying other modalities or gaining insight that hasn’t actually lead to change, I incorporate EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and ART (Accelerated Resolution Therapy) - both highly effective, evidence-based approaches for processing difficult experiences and making movement where nothing was moving before.

But here's what really matters: I meet you where you’re at. We'll work together to figure out what you need, what resonates with you, and what will actually help you create meaningful, lasting change.

CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and REBT (Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy) are both approaches that help you understand the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and even more importantly, how to change patterns that aren't serving you.

CBT focuses on identifying and challenging the unhelpful thoughts that fuel anxiety, depression, and self-doubt. For example, if you're constantly thinking "I'm going to mess this up" or "Everyone thinks I'm a failure," CBT helps you recognize those thoughts, question their validity, and replace them with more balanced, realistic perspectives. It's practical, solution-focused work that gives you tools you can use in real time.

REBT takes it a step further by looking at the core beliefs underneath those thoughts - the "shoulds," "musts," and rigid expectations we place on ourselves and others. It's about uncovering the irrational beliefs that keep you stuck ("I must be perfect" or "Everyone must like me") and developing more flexible, compassionate ways of thinking.

You might not even realize that some of these thinking patterns and belief systems underlie your thoughts and feelings, but that's where I come in to help dig deep into those thoughts and feelings to help identify and shift those patterns that are keeping you stuck (and anxious, and unhappy, and frustrated, and unsatisfied, and....).

Both approaches are evidence-based and highly effective for anxiety, stress, life transitions, and breaking out of negative thought patterns. I use them in combination with other modalities, particularly psychodynamic therapy, to create a personalized approach that gets deep and fits your specific needs to make the change you're looking for in your life.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and ART (Accelerated Resolution Therapy) are both powerful, evidence-based therapies designed to help you process difficult memories, trauma, and distressing experiences - without having to relive every painful detail.

EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (like guided eye movements) to help your brain reprocess traumatic memories in a way that reduces their emotional charge. It's especially effective for PTSD, anxiety, and past experiences that still feel raw or overwhelming. Many clients find that memories that once felt debilitating become more manageable after EMDR, kind of like the volume has been turned way down.

ART is similar and also uses bilateral stimulation, but it often works even faster. It combines eye movements with visualization techniques to help you "reprogram" how your brain stores distressing images and memories. The beauty of ART is that you don't have to talk in detail about what happened (or even talk about it at all!) - you can process and heal from trauma without having to relive it out loud.

Both approaches can feel a bit different from traditional talk therapy, but they're incredibly effective for getting unstuck when words alone aren't enough. If you're a very visual or creative person, I like to start with ART and see if that's the approach that works for you. If you're more thought-based and don't love visualization or creating a picture/movie in your mind, I'll usually start with EMDR and see if that's the approach for you.

If you've experienced trauma, panic/anxiety, unresolved grief, or distressing memories that keep showing up in your life, or if you feel as though regular talk therapy just hasn't gotten you to the place you want to be and are looking to try something a little different, either of these approaches might be exactly what you need to get unstuck and make the change you've been longing for.

Therapy can help with more than you might think. If you're struggling with anxiety - whether it's the low-level hum of worry that's always there or the full-body panic that makes you want to hide from the world - we can work through that together.

If you're navigating a major life change (think: finishing school, starting a new job, getting married, becoming a parent, moving, changing careers), therapy provides a space to process the overwhelm and find your footing.

I also work with clients dealing with feeling stressed or overwhelmed, overall life dissatisfaction, complicated relationship dynamics they’d like to change, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and unresolved trauma.

Maybe you're a cycle breaker - trying diligently to do things differently than the generations before you. Maybe you're a high achiever who looks successful on the outside but feels stuck, empty or just plain panicked on the inside. Maybe you're just tired of repeating the same relationship patterns or making the same choices that keep you small.

Whatever brings you to therapy, we'll work together to understand the root of what you're experiencing - not just slap a band-aid on the symptoms. Real healing happens when we get deep in the work, and that's exactly what we'll do.

This is one of those questions that doesn't have a one-size-fits-all answer because every person's journey is different.

Some clients come to therapy with a specific issue they want to work through and feel ready to wrap up after a few months. But many of my clients stay longer because they're committed to deeper work - breaking generational patterns, healing from complex trauma, or completely restructuring how they relate to themselves and the world. And that's okay. There's no rush, no pressure, and no predetermined timeline.

What I can tell you is this: therapy is most effective when you're consistent and engaged in the process. We'll check in regularly about your progress, reassess your goals, and make sure the work we're doing continues to feel meaningful and aligned with what you need.

I'm a private pay practice, which means I don't accept insurance directly. However, I am an out-of-network provider and am happy to provide you with a Superbill upon request. A Superbill is a detailed receipt that you can submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement, depending on your specific plan and out-of-network benefits.

For detailed information about session fees and payment options, please visit my Fees & Payment page where you'll find everything you need to know.

Honestly, I think the answer comes down to this: I show up as a real person, not just a therapist playing a role.

When you work with me, you're not getting a silent therapist who nods and says "and how does that make you feel?" You're getting someone who's warm, engaged, authentic, and genuinely invested in your growth. I bring my whole self to our sessions, and I create a space where you can do the same.

I care deeply about helping you understand the "why" behind your struggles - not just managing symptoms, but actually getting to the root of what's holding you back. I believe the answers you're looking for are already inside you; my job is to help you uncover them, trust them, and use them to build the life you actually want.

If you're someone who values depth, authenticity, and real human connection in your therapy experience, we're probably going to work really well together.