Empower You Counselors & Therapist in Olney, MD

For me, therapy is all about empowerment. Whether you have a difficult decision to make, a boundary to uphold, or feel the need to change patterns in your daily life, my goal is to walk along side you as you explore not only what shapes the present, but how the future can be different. In our work, I will take a relational approach that mixes honesty and empathy to help you reach the goals that you are striving towards.

Much of my training is in the eating disorder field, which means I also work frequently with people who are struggling with anxiety and depression as well. I have also completed basic training in EMDR, which I utilize to help clients reprocess trauma and adverse life experiences that are impacting their daily functioning.

I received my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from George Washington University in 2019. Since graduating, I have been working at an eating disorder facility that provides day treatment and intensive outpatient support to women struggling with eating disorders.

While the thought of therapy can be intimidating, your therapist never should be. Those who struggle with eating disorders and related mental health issues are often eager to please in other aspects of life, including at work or school, among family or peers, and sometimes, even in therapy. I want my clients to understand that there is no “right answer” and as a therapist, I am not asking for one. Instead, I want to provide a place where my clients feel safe to openly and honestly express themselves, where they, as experts of their own thoughts and experiences, are in the driver seat. My job is to provide direction and support. Together, we will set goals and work towards them through a relational, empathetic, and direct approach.

My training has largely been focused in the eating disorder field and my passion is to help adolescents and women find freedom from eating disorders, body image issues, anxiety, and depression. In my work, I utilize a Health at Every Size (HAES) approach to help my clients make peace with food and their bodies.

I received my master’s in clinical social work from The Catholic University of America’s School of Social Service in May 2020. I completed my advanced year field placement at an eating disorder treatment center, providing individual, group and family therapy to adolescents and women struggling with eating disorders and related mental health issues. Post graduation, I continue my work there. I currently hold a LMSW in the state of Maryland and receive clinical supervision from Lisa Luse, LCSW-C.

I believe that the beauty of therapy is that it can provide a space to reflect on a person’s life and experiences. As a therapist, I try to provide a space that feels comfortable and safe to think about what is and is not working in my client’s lives. I want to help them build on their strengths and to think about any changes that might help them feel better. I consider myself empathetic and engaging. My hope is to offer support and to help you to develop skills that will allow you to navigate life’s challenges. At the same time, I defer to you as the expert on your life. Together we can work to understand your experience and how to work towards what you want for yourself.

I work with individuals and I have a particular interest in helping people improve their relationship with food and their body. I work from a Health at Every Size framework and it is important to me to provide a therapeutic space that is open and accepting of people in all bodies. I have also worked with anxiety, depression, trauma, difficulties around life transitions, transcultural issues, and family/relationship issues. I enjoy working with people from diverse socio-cultural backgrounds and helping them navigate the complexities of different parts of their identity in their world.

I received my Masters in Clinical Social Work at the University Of Maryland School Of Social Work in 2013. I have provided therapy to adolescents and adults in an outpatient mental health clinic. I also work as a therapist for undergraduate and graduate students in the behavioral health department of a larger outpatient health clinic at a university. I currently hold an LCSW-C license in the state of Maryland.

One of my favorite quotes is “In between where you are and where you want to be, there is room to simply breathe,” by Morgan Harper Nichols; I believe that therapy is all about providing you with the safe space to breathe and process while we explore both where you are and where it is that you truly want to be.

I operate with an eclectic style that is all about providing you with what you need. I am trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (which is all about changing the way we think), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (which focuses on regulating difficult emotions and building healthy relationships), ACT (which is about accepting our circumstances and committing to a life lived by your values), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (an evidenced-based practice for structured trauma treatment). I also have experience in Exposure and Response Prevention (a technique used for treating OCD and anxiety) and am beginning training for Internal Family Systems (a treatment modality that is all about identifying the different parts of yourself).

I received my Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Towson University in 2020. Since graduating and obtaining my license, I have been working at a residential eating disorder facility that provides 24-hour care to clients of all genders who are struggling with disordered eating. Through my time at a higher level of care, I have also had extensive experience working with assorted mood disorders, trauma, anxiety, OCD, and interpersonal difficulties.

I believe that everyone has the strength and the resources they need to manage the difficulties they are facing; however, I also believe that everyone needs the space and empathic support to connect with these strengths, which is what I am here to provide.