About Me

Education

In 2002, I received my undergraduate degree in psychology, with a minor in philosophy, from Virginia Commonwealth University. After which, I wanted to move to a big city with skyscrapers, a good music scene, and a cost of living that did not require three jobs for a recent college grad. I fell in love with Chicago. In 2009, I received my master’s degree in Community Counseling from Loyola University–Chicago. I felt I could not stop there and, in 2018, I received my PhD in Counseling Psychology from UW–Madison. 

I’ve been everywhere, man

Johnny Cash

Legend

A Little Bit About Me

Growing up, I bounced between the mid-Atlantic and the Midwest. I attended 5 different elementary schools by the time I finished 6th grade. In college, I adventured to visit friends and family all over the United States wanting to see and experience as much as I could. The wanderlust that instilled continued into adulthood and I began traveling abroad. My wanderlust was rooted in a curiosity of people. I remember seeking to know how it felt to be in different environments and different cultures. That curiosity launched me into my education in psychology and honed my focus in psychotherapy. 

Now that I have settled into a life and career in Madison, Wisconsin, I still enjoy a sense of curiosity of people. I truly love the ‘aha’ moment in psychotherapy. The moment that the puzzle pieces fit and we understand why difficult patterns are present and how to move forward. What parts of your environment, culture, family of origin, and biology may have set in motion the behaviors you are experiencing today? How can we utilize that knowledge to transform your day to day actions towards personal health and growth? I look forward to collaborating with you on your mental health journey. 

Clinical Experience

SEPTEMBER 2018–MARCH 2021

Mental Health Clinician, Deming Way Clinic, UW Health—Madison, WI 

Provided evidence-based individual and group psychotherapy for adult populations, utilizing multiple treatment modalities, including: brief psychodynamic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance commitment therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and trauma therapy.

July 2016–June 2017

Predoctoral Intern, Wisconsin Psychiatric Institute & Clinics—Dept. of Psychiatry—Madison, WI

Psychiatry Outpatient ClinicProvided evidence-based individual psychotherapy and assessments for adolescents and adult populations with chronic to acute mental health concerns.  

Group PsychotherapyDialectical Behavior Therapy, Mindfulness for Depression

Child/Adolescent ClinicProviding evidence-based psychotherapy interventions for children and adolescents. 

Couples ClinicProviding couples psychotherapy to help resolve relationship stress.

Rehabilitation & Recovery ClinicProvided empirically validated behavioral treatments for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Substance Use Disorders with adult veterans.

September 2014–August 2015

Externship Practicum—Access Community Health Centers (ACHC)—Madison, WI 

Provided behavioral health consultation to primary care providers within a community health clinic. This work included brief interventions focused on medication adherence, coping, health behavior/lifestyle modification, tobacco cessation, sleep hygiene, family interactions, and mental-emotional health issues tailored to specific patient and physician needs. Conducted brief assessments of mood and behavior.

September 2012–august 2013

Advanced Practicum—Psychology Research and Training Clinic (PRTC)—Madison, WI 

Provided individual and couples psychotherapy for adult populations, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Conducted cognitive assessments, safety assessments, structured intakes, and mood inventories. Created treatment plans tailored to specific client needs. 

September 2011–May 2012

Foundational Practicum—Wisconsin Psychiatric Institute & Clinics (WISPIC)—Madison, WI

Provided individual and group psychotherapy for adult populations including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).  Conducted safety assessments and mood inventories. Created treatment plans tailored to specific client needs.

September 2009–August 2010

Doctoral Student Counselor—Counseling Psychology Training Clinic —Madison, WI 

Provided individual psychotherapy for outpatient adult population. 

September 2008–June 2009

Practicum Intern—Lutheran Social Services of Illinois—Chicago, IL

Provided individual, family, and group therapy for child, adolescent, and adult populations.