About

I am a licensed psychologist specializing in couples therapy, disordered eating/body image, and substance abuse.  My work in these areas has lent to my heightened expertise in treating mood and anxiety disorders as well as life transitions issues.


My Approach: I aspire to facilitate each client’s journey toward a fuller, more meaningful life. The client learns to embrace his strengths and  current resources while simultaneously acquiring specific skills and insight to guide him along the way.  Throughout the therapeutic process, I respect and collaboratively explore his natural ambivalence toward life change and empower him to set the direction of treatment.

Although I am eclectic in my approach, I rely heavily on the following evidence-based (highly supported by clinical outcome research) therapies:

Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT).  Observing the futility of directing significant mental energy toward avoiding psychological pain, clients discover how essential this energy is to the pursuit of a fuller, more meaningful life – a life that fits with one’s deepest values and brings lasting contentment.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT).  Learning shortcuts to recognizing and refuting overly negative thinking patterns, clients revise (develop more positive, realistic thinking) their typical ways of viewing themselves, other people, and the world.

Gottman Method Couples Therapy.  Following what long-term research shows “successful couples” do, partners purposefully increase the frequency of behaviors that strengthen, and minimize specific behaviors that are destructive to, couples relationships.

Interpersonal Therapy (IPT).  The client resolves specific  ongoing interpersonal difficulties (interpersonal role disputes, role transitions, grief reactions, or interpersonal deficits) that are impeding personal growth.


My Training:  Having worked several years for The Renfrew Center as well as in the counseling centers at Widener University and George Mason University, I possess over 10 years of experience working with eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, & binge-eating) and substance abuse in both residential and outpatient settings.

Building on my experience conducting couples and family therapy in these settings, I completed both Levels I & II of the training required to become a Certified Gottman Method Couples Therapist.  When I complete my certification in Fall 2013, I will be one of only a few other Gottman-certified therapists practicing in Maryland.

I have also served as an adjunct professor in In multiple graduate counseling programs.  My courses included clinical interviewing/diagnosis, couples/family therapy, substance abuse and eating disorders treatment.

I have provided therapy services since 2001.  Through Widener University, I graduated  with my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, while simultaneously completing classes for a Masters in Business Administration (M.B.A.).  Since then, I have worked in college counseling, group private practice, and, in Fall 2012, opened my own practice.  Both my doctoral program and internship are accredited by the American Psychological Association (A.P.A.).  I am a member of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS), National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), Eating Disorder Network (EDN) of Maryland, and the American Psychological Association.