I believe we are all doing our best based on what we’ve been through and come to believe about ourselves. Our wisest parts find ways to protect us but at some point this way of showing up no longer serves us and can get in the way of how we want to live. As much as we may try, we cannot think our way out of old patterns. Trauma therapy helps us understand where these patterns are coming from and heal from the stories we’ve created - or been told to believe - about ourselves. All are welcome in this space. I specialize in grief and loss - anticipatory, complicated, traumatic, and acute, development & attachment trauma, PTSD, anxiety and life transitions.

I specialize in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). This method of therapy can be used alone, or in collaboration with other therapeutic techniques to resolve past trauma and heal old emotional wounds. I weave in IFS (Internal Family Systems) often referred to as “parts” work and help align your mind and body through using a somatic lens. I also use an attachment and inner child lens in all of my approaches as the body, our emotional bonds with our caregivers, and our younger parts all have something valuable to contribute to the healing process. 

I identify as a white, cisgendered, female and understand this is a privileged identity. I am attuned to the identities of race, class, sex, gender, sexuality, body type and national origin you hold and use an anti-oppression framework to help facilitate tending to and mending the parts of you that feel shame or pain from the impact of oppression.

In addition to my work with Our Collective, I have worked at an outpatient community mental health clinic; and served as a grief counselor at the Wendt Center for Loss and Healing. I received my MSW from Catholic University and I have a Masters in Public Administration from UMD. Prior to therapy, I worked in education administration for 10 years and as a grassroots organizer and social justice advocate. ​

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I take seriously my responsibility for my competence as a brain-based therapist. I completed basic EMDR training in 2022 and intermediate training in 2023, I have used EMDR in over 200 therapy sessions, including 45-min, 90-min and intensives. I will work with you not only to clear your negative beliefs from your past traumas but to integrate your positive beliefs. My favorite positive belief is: "I can learn and I believe in my capacity to figure things out." I am in an EMDR consultation group and receive supervision from an EMDR-trained therapist. My growing edges and blind spots as a clinician are ending sessions on time but it is are area of growth I am committed to improving.

I am a first generation American, my parents were born in the Netherlands. I've lived in DC for 25 years but grew up in Michigan. I started my social work career by teaching social work in Romania in the mid-90’s. Nothing grounds me more than water, especially Lake Michigan, or walking, especially in Rock Creek. I’m happiest in the cool crisp Autumn air and I love watching live music (especially at JazzFest in New Orleans), sitting around a fire, creating with Wendy Mac's Grown Ups Table, cooking (but don’t ask me to bake), traveling and being with my husband and two teenage sons.