I am a licensed clinical social worker with over 30 years of experience in the Behavioral Health field. Over the years I have worked in many different settings ranging from Community Mental Health centers to private practice. I have worked with a wide variety of client populations and issues including depression, anxiety, relationship problems, codependency, addictions, abuse/trauma, anger management, stress management and many others. I am trained in best practice models including CBT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing and Wellness Management and Recovery to name a few. However, no matter how well trained and experienced I am, it means nothing if I am unable to empathically connect with my clients. This begins by recognizing and honoring the courage it takes to enter therapy and “bare your soul” to a complete stranger. I am naturally empathic and genuinely interested in others which I use to foster an environment in which my clients feel safe, understood and accepted. As a therapist I adhere to certain guiding principles such as the following: Each client is doing the best they know how. The problem is not that there is something wrong with them – it is that they simply are not aware of more effective ways to navigate life’s issues or they lack the skills needed to do so; What is effective for one person, is not necessarily effective for another; Each person’s solution lies within them and it is my responsibility to help them find it; and none of us received a “How to live life” handbook – Life is hard and messy and this means that none of us have all the answers including me! And so I view therapy in many ways as a collaborative process in which we work together to find the best ways forward. I don’t see myself so much as an “expert”, but rather as a guide imbued with knowledge and skills that can help a client find their own path to healing, health and recovery.