My Journey (so far)

I started my private practice as an exit plan. Working as a psychologist in a university counseling center had been my dream - I loved working with students, adored my colleagues, and enjoyed being part of a campus community. But staff shortages and an unmanageable workload made it impossible to do my job well. 

I worried about my clients in crisis who I could only fit into my schedule every three weeks. People came into my office with painful, complex concerns that needed time and attention, and all I could do was offer a band aid. I was exhausted and constantly disappointed in myself. It got so bad that I started to doubt whether or not I could be a therapist at all.

Then, in yet another staff meeting where we brought our concerns to the higher ups, we were told, “If you care about the students, you’ll make it work.”

I was disgusted. I felt so insulted. We cared so much about our students - that’s why we were raising these issues! That was the day I walked into my own therapist’s office and said, “I need to quit.”

It’s now been five years since I left that job, and I have the deep privilege of being able to do meaningful work in a sustainable way. But it shouldn’t be a privilege - everyone should have access to fulfilling, well-compensated, sustainable work.

I know a lot would have to change in order for that to happen. My piece of that change work is supporting individual clients to be clear, effective, and purposeful in their relationships and careers, and empowering organizations to be good places to work. 

Education and Training:

• Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, Columbia University

• B.A. in Psychology, Summa Cum Laude with Honors, Lafayette College

• Internship and Postdoctoral Fellowship completed at Counseling Services of University of California, Davis, Multicultural Immersion Program emphasis area

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy Intensive Training, Behavioral Tech

• Maternal Mental Health Intensive, Seleni Institute