Everyone struggles at some time or another. That's life. And when the struggle becomes unmanageable, that's where I come in. As a sensorimotor trained therapist I offer a calming, non-judgmental, and supportive environment to explore your struggles. Part of that exploration may involve how your past intrudes upon your present, and your future. We work together to make sense of what is troubling you so you can become empowered to make the changes that will benefit your life. Are you worth that exploration and making those changes? Absolutely! I look forward to connecting with you.

When you experience trauma or stressful life situation, it is not uncommon for your life to feel out of control. I have a passion to help others who have experienced a traumatic event or a stressful life situation. It is my goal to help others to find healthy perceptions of themselves, and to strengthen interpersonal relationships. If you're looking for extra support and guidance to help you know yourself better or you're just ready to move in a new direction in your life, I look forward to working with you to achieve your goals.

I provide professional, results-oriented counseling with a focus on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Hypnosis, methods that more quickly and effectively brings about positive changes. As a Marriage and Family Therapist, I also work extensively with couples and family members on relationship issues.

Virginia Family Therapy is a mental health practice serving individuals, families, and couples within our community. Our counseling practice is designed to help people at all stages and all walks of life by offering counselors with diverse backgrounds and specialties. We are committed to developing strengths-based, authentic, and long-lasting relationships with you and your children. We hope to provide you with the support and insight you need to help your family navigate life's hard times and joys.

I enjoy working with adolescents and young adults, and my areas of focus include anxiety, grief & loss, spirituality, life transitions, and relationship issues. I offer a safe and compassionate space for you to explore your story. I believe that healing occurs in the context of authentic and caring relationships, and use a relational, trauma-informed approach to therapy. Originally from Virginia, I graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.A. in Religious Studies & Biology. After a time of working with adolescents, young professionals, and adults in a church in the D.C. area, I moved to Orlando and graduated with a Masters in Counseling from Reformed Theological Seminary in 2018. ​ I have since returned to my home state of Virginia, and am currently a Resident in Counseling working towards my license as a Licensed Professional Counselor. I am practicing under the supervision of Dr. Daniel Gutierrez, LPC, CSAC. I maintain professional memberships in American Counseling Association (ACA) and the Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling (ASERVIC).

I have over 25 years of experience helping adults, families and children heal from trauma, loss, and other challenges. I am trained in EMDR and I incorporate creative and mindfulness techniques. I am also trained as a Registered Play Therapist- Supervisor.

My approach is collaborative with the individual or family, providing therapeutic pathways & education to promote existing strengths & abilities to sustain achieved outcomes long after counseling is completed. Because of my experience as an Adoption Worker and an adoptive parent, I offer specific supports in the area of adoption and complex childhood trauma.

I am a certified coach, Kellogg Executive Scholar in leadership, materials scientist, and Chopra Center certified instructor in Primordial Sound Meditation. And, I don’t quite fit the mold. I see invisible things. As an experimental materials scientist, I studied delicate nanometer structures using high-resolution electron beams. Often, that meant balancing power and sensitivity while patiently retaining focus for an extensive period to notice the subtle unfolding of something new - before it turned visible to anyone else. As a coach, I bring the same optimism, joy, and discipline of discovery when we shine the light on invisible things that a client is looking to bring into focus in a coaching session. I enjoy witnessing my clients’ wonder and awe as they encounter new elements of self for the first time. I listen to the sixth sense. I have cultivated systems thinking in my roles as an engineer and business leader, and I pay close attention to patterns, trends, and interdependencies. I found synchronicity and a sense of timing to hold the most significant power among all variables. In coaching, we directly experience the significance and power of moments big and small as we expand our wisdom to include strategic intuition and a sense of timing. Not all moments may hold equal leverage, but each one is indispensable as they combine to form a unique symphony of our lives. I trust the process and the resourcefulness of our creativity. Growing up in the former Yugoslavia during the civil war and disintegration of the country, I directly witnessed the complexity, strain, and tremendous resilience of the human spirit. Through those experiences, I gained a humbling appreciation for the regenerative powers of hope, curiosity, and love amid uncertainty and sustained collective trauma. In my coaching sessions, I aspire to provide unconditional positive regard, radical acceptance, and full presence for my clients who navigate the deep and cloudy waters of personal transformation.

I appreciate that it can be challenging to find a therapist. I encourage you to shop around, read profiles, visit websites, and have initial sessions with a couple of providers to find someone who you can really talk to and be open with. We all have different styles and vibes and ways of talking and that's a good thing, hopefully we're all well trained as well but I encourage you to inquire if our training and credentials are confusing or not obvious. In therapy I will be someone who challenges you. I might interrupt you at times if your thinking seems off. I will encourage you to feel and exercise and be honest with yourself and the people you love. Therapy will be challenging. Hopefully you will be thoughtful about the process and interested in making changes. I'm here to help you become the person who you want to be and love the person who you are.