My Qualifications
I hold an undergraduate degree in Human Services from The George Washington University in Washington, DC and a Master's degree in Social Work from the Smith College School for Social Work in Northampton, Massachusetts. My experience and expertise in child and adolescent mental health has allowed me to become a Child Mental Health Specialist (CMHS) in the state of Washington. I am also a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in Washington State. I am in the process of completing Smith College's Advanced Certificate in Clinical Supervision and have been providing clinical supervision to social workers and master's level therapists for the past four years.
Throughout my professional career, I have worked with a variety of people in different settings including hospitals, schools, social service agencies, and private practice. I have had the opportunity to provide therapy to people of many ages including preschoolers, teens, and adults of all ages. I strive to take into consideration my client's cultural experiences and am comfortable with people from diverse backgrounds and lifestyles. In my private practice, I specialize in individual and family therapy to help children, adolescents and adults cope with the effects of trauma and transitions. Issues addressed include: healing from abuse, divorce, school difficulties, domestic violence, behavioral problems, anxiety, depression, self esteem, body image, support for coping with chronic illness and more.
I have also done extensive work with disaster mental health response, providing mental health services to survivors of hurricanes Katrina and Rita as well as to first responders to the hurricanes. I traveled to Louisiana in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina in August of 2005, where I worked with the Red Cross, and later returned to New Orleans to provide services through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association (SAMHSA).