… that we struggle to cope with the symptoms and the impact on our lives, even long afterward.

Whether you consider your situation as traumatic or just ‘something that has happened,’ talking about your challenges and therapeutically processing them can bring you improved quality of life.

Our lives are so busy, and we have so much we need to get done that we often neglect dealing with our hurts from the past and present.

From family and relationship issues to struggles with school or work, there are so many life challenges.

Experiencing big emotions can often lead to issues regulating moods and get in the way of accomplishing our individual goals.

While we try hard to push forward, feelings of anxiety, depression, nightmares, and sleep difficulties can often interfere with living our best lives.

We develop patterns we think are helping us live our lives, but often we are just avoiding things which have the potential to make us uncomfortable.

Maybe you are trying to understand why you can’t seem to control your anxiety in certain situations or are having a hard time getting out of bed in the morning.

Are people who love you giving you feedback that you don’t seem like yourself?

Do you have a hard time motivating yourself to do the things that you used to enjoy?

Facing your fears, anxieties, and traumas can be hard – but I’M HERE FOR YOU!

With extensive experience working with trauma victims of all ages, stages, and types, there is nothing you can tell me that will push me away.

“Emotional pain is not something that should be hidden away and never spoken about. There is truth in your pain. There is growth in your pain. Only if it’s brought out into the open.” – Steven Aitchison

Talking about the situations in your life that have been difficult is HARD. Our instinct is to push them down into the back recesses of our minds and “pretend it never happened.” This is actually the worst thing you can do for your healing.

Bringing this information into the light of day is what WILL set you free from your traumas.

In our therapy sessions, we will use innovative ways to confront the memories, so they lose their power.

Together, we will rewrite your narrative, so you are the one who is in control of how you remember of what happened, rather than the trauma or grief being in control of YOU.

We can work, as a team, to reinforce all the healthy things you are doing for yourself and adjust the areas that are causing problematic symptoms.

Let me be there to hold your hand while you set yourself free from what could be holding you back.

In our work together, we can discover which patterns are working best for you and adjust those that are continuing your cycle of unhappiness. We’ll individualize your treatment goals to include various strategies tailored to your individual needs.

Maybe you are engaging in avoidance, so you don’t have to feel discomfort in certain situations.

Are you missing out on life events, because you worry you will be overwhelmed or don’t feel like you can muster up the necessary effort needed to participate in social situations?

Would you rather stay home than face the day with all its uncertainties?

Using Cognitive Behavioral-Based Strategies, we will work to increase your self-awareness into the maladaptive thoughts which may be contributing to your current symptoms. This has the potential to make quick and encouraging changes as we tackle life’s difficulties.

Within the comfort of the therapeutic session, together we will work through your avoidance of citations and find that facing your worst fears can set you free from suffering.

As technology advances, we will use the most updated methods to challenge your avoidance in a safe environment. We can do this using Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy and other creative means of challenging your irrational fears and allowing you to experience your life without the limitations your anxieties are trying to trick you into believing.

Processing traumas in your life can be challenging. We do so by using proven strategies to help you change the way your brain has stored these memories, so they have a reduced impact on your life.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and progressive counting are just a few of the many methods used to help with processing your trauma narrative and minimizing the negative impact the trauma continues to have on your life.

I’ve been a licensed psychologist for over 20 years now, and I cherish every session with each person who sits down across from me in search of a better life.

I am humbled daily by the trust and honesty I experience from my patients. I feel blessed that they’re willing to share their life experiences with me.

Walking into the therapy room and sharing things you may have never even admitted to yourself can be tough. It warms my heart to know that I am the one my patients have chosen to continue the path toward self-improvement. In my opinion, there is no greater human connection than sharing a space with someone who is being vulnerable with the goal of making positive life changes.

Not many professionals get to genuinely say they love their job. Even in difficult moments, I cherish the interactions I have with patients and their families.

When I’m not in the office, I enjoy spending time with my family, exploring new restaurants, taking in the beautiful city we live in, and curling up with a good book.

• Child Sexual and Physical Abuse
• Child Trauma
• Teen Sexual Abuse and Trauma
• Teen Relationship Issues
• Bipolar disorder
• Anxiety
• OCD
• Depression
• Virtual Reality Therapy

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
• Alternative Families Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (AF-CBT)
• Progressive Counting
• Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT)

• B.S. in Psychology from University of South Florida (USF)
• M.S. in Psychology from Nova Southeastern University (NSU)
• Psy.D. in Psychology from Nova Southeastern University (NSU)
• Clinical Psychology Internship at Miami Jackson Memorial Medical Center
• Clinical Psychology Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Miami Jackson Memorial Medical Center
• Clinical Director of Kristi House, Children’s Advocacy Center
• Member of Board of Directors of Kristi House, Children’s Advocacy Center
• Secretary, Board of Directors of Kristi House, Children’s Advocacy Center
• International OCD Foundation
• Certified Child and Adolescent Trauma Specialist

… and it’s a positive step toward emotional health.

Through our working together, you’ll realize that, despite what has happened in your life, you can create a future you’re proud of – one where you thrive and live up to your potential.

It’s time to find your balance and emotional well-being. Stop letting the past interfere with your quality of life.

You CAN become the best version of yourself!

I’d love to work with you, your child, or teen. Please, give me a call today: (305) 662-2686.