My philosophy and vision in treatment involves facilitating a combination of talk therapy and mindful body practices, enabling each person to realize his or her unique self with compassion and awareness.

Hi there! I am a board-certified, Yale & UPMC-trained, integrative psychiatrist with a CT-based telepsychiatry private practice that focuses on combining traditional psychiatric approaches with evidence-informed holistic methods to address you as a whole person - mind, body, & soul. I incorporate judicious use of medication, psychotherapy, mind-body medicine, nutritional supplementation, and healthy lifestyle modifications (i.e. sleep, diet, and exercise) into a personalized, comprehensive treatment plan that is aligned with your goals and vision for a fulfilling life. I bring an approach that is person-centered, strength-based, culturally-sensitive, and trauma-informed. In working therapeutically with patients, I use methods derived from both solution and process-oriented psychotherapeutic frameworks. I start the therapy process by actively listening to you and your story and tailoring the process to fit your unique situation. I believe that healing is a holistic process that requires reflection and action. In some cases, our work together may involve a more goal-oriented approach of teaching you concrete tools that help you gain insight into yourself and break free from the negative patterns holding you back. In other cases, we may journey on a more depth-oriented approach that explores how you think, experience and relationally function in the world (including biological, social and cultural aspects) and allows an open, non-judgmental space to process larger life questions of human existence and personal values & beliefs in order to not only better understand the root causes of your suffering, but also to better understand yourself so you can become empowered in making life choices that align with who you are and lead a life that feels sincere, connected, and purposeful. I enjoy working alongside perceptive, growth-driven individuals with inquisitive minds and nostalgic souls who are invested in doing the work to better understand themselves and looking for a therapist who will meet them with empathy, authenticity, honesty, creativity, and a dash of humor. I believe that Medicine = Science + Story. Beyond improving diagnostic accuracy and treatment outcomes, I have found that utilizing a narrative lens in the clinical context allows a reframe in perspective away from what is lost in illness and toward what is preserved — and in doing so, engages the innate ability I believe every human being possesses for resilience and healing. Not everything in life happens for a reason or is within our control, but we can find meaning and a sense of purpose in the things that happen. I am passionate about doing the rewarding work of providing holistic, incremental care that alleviates suffering, promotes self-discovery, and helps patients still feel like people as they create more authentic and satisfying lives. This goal is representative of the kind of orientation with which I approach my work as well as my own life — around having an open heart, a curious mind, and a willingness to pay it forward. I provide collaborative, compassionate, and conscientious care that values the therapeutic relationship as central to the healing process. If you are looking for a trusted, long-term partner on your journey towards optimal wellness, I would love to hear from you to see if we might be a good fit! To request a free discovery phone call to see if we might be a good fit for working together, please submit a request via the "Book Now" button above or my website (www.ikigaipsychiatry.com).

I believe that you are the expert in your life and experiences, and as your therapist, I will accompany you on your journey through self-discovery, healing, and change. Through examining your emotions, thoughts and beliefs, I will support your journey of exploration and help you achieve your fullest potential. I am dedicated to creating a safe and encouraging space for all of my clients to grow and better understand themselves. I work with adults and teens 14+ who may be experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, challenges with adjustment, life transitions, along with other challenges you might be facing. Throughout your journey, we will collaborate to find an approach that best fits your wants, needs and goals.

I collaborate with arts and helping professionals on a variety of issues, including: finding your voice in negotiation and relationships, getting creative projects and careers off the ground, identifying what's working in your life--and what's not--and how to change things for the better. I also work with issues around bereavement and loss. My training and approach combines psychodynamic, mindbody and mindfulness aspects. I have expertise in stress management (how to handle the present), trauma recovery (how to integrate the past) and creative breakthroughs and empowerment (how to build a future). When appropriate, I use EMDR, a proven method of symptom relief from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); meditation and breathing exercises and other techniques. Equally if not more important is how we fit together as a working team. I invite you to consult with me for one or two sessions and see if you'd like to work with me.

My goal as a psychologist is to help you navigate the rocky areas of life with more insight, self-compassion, and the tools you need to thrive. I have had the pleasure of working for over a decade with amazing individuals who reached out for support during transitional, challenging, or difficult times. I treat a host of mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, image, self-esteem and confidence, and mood issues. I am trained with a Master’s in Counseling and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, with an approach that looks comprehensively at an entire person’s life, including mindfulness-centered cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT), cognitive therapy, dialectical behavior therapies (DBT), and self-compassion and confidence training. I am empathetic to anxiety around meeting with a new therapist. I am happy to answer any questions to make your experience more comfortable and help you get started. I personally return your emails and telephone calls by the next business day.

In my over 25 years of experience in offering psychotherapy to individuals, families and couples, I have seen, time and time again, the inherent ability each person has for healing and change that can be stimulated and helped through therapy. My work is to support you in this process, employing my advanced training in an array of successful therapeutic approaches including mindfulness therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy, to design and facilitate a treatment plan to meet the personal needs of each client individual, family or couple.

I practice a problem focused, short-term, and distinct form of cognitive behavioral therapy. I am an active directive therapist. I teach people how to change what can be changed and to accept what cannot be changed about themselves, others and life. I teach rational thinking. This approach is called Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). It was created by Albert Ellis a famous psychologist who I worked with for many years. This is a no nonsense approach to emotional and behavioral health. I actively show you how not to upset yourself when you encounter difficulties so that you can then go about attempting to modify what can be changed. I teach people how to control their emotions and behaviors. I work with individuals and couples. I show people how to adopt sensible beliefs so that they can achieve their potential. Please go to my website and watch my video and read more about this very pragmatic, fast acting and direct form of psychotherapy.

In the several years I've been in this profession, I'm extremely grateful that I've had the opportunity to work with many different populations. I graduated from UConn in 2018 with my master's in marriage and family therapy. After my master's, I worked for a non-profit in Willimantic, CT where I treated those with co-occurring substance use and mental health challenges. In 2019, I had a full-time job in Willimantic and went back to UConn for my PhD and also opened a private practice that same year. Throughout my PhD, my research has predominantly focused on sexuality and sexual health. Specifically, I research pornography consumption and how it impacts well-being. Currently, I own a private practice where I specialize in sex therapy. I also work with people who face relationship challenges (whatever that looks like for you) and anxiety that impacts happiness and overall well-being.

We are a collaborative team working on your health and well-being. In the interest of enhanced communication between us, I'd like to take the time to explain the process of counseling. The process of counseling can be both exciting and scary, as you reach within yourself to achieve your full potential. It often takes a "leap of faith" to begin the counseling process, and you've already achieved that difficult goal. You will set and achieve many other difficult goals in our time together! In counseling, I work primarily from three different viewpoints. The first is called cognitive-behavioral, which is really just a term to describe the fact that I believe that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are very intertwined, and that sometimes our problems are caused by the way we think, feel, and/or behave. This gets complicated because all of these things become mixed with one another, so after a while it may become difficult to sort out what started the problem in the first place. One of the things I will do in therapy is to help you sort out your thoughts, feelings and behaviors, and which of these may contribute to your problems. Sometimes simply restructuring the way we think is enough for us to work through our problems. A second viewpoint I work from deals with the family in which you grew up. Many of the things we experience in our childhood affects us throughout our lives, and, in fact, help to shape the personalities we have as adults. One of the things we will do in therapy is explore your family history to look for patterns and themes that may affect you and play out in your life today. Sometimes simply recognizing your family's patterns, whether currently, or how you think and feel about them in the past, can help you to work through your issues. Finally, I work from a systemic point of view. Simply put, I acknowledge that each one us is embedded in a greater context than ourselves. We have families, friends, school, work, community, and other life situations that greatly affect how we function. I will work with you to discover if there are any systemic difficulties in your life, and help you to resolve them. These are my primary ways of helping you in counseling, though I will utilize a variety of techniques to help you in any way that I can. One of the things that you can expect, though, is that I will be giving you 100% in our work together. If you put the same amount of effort into this process, you will be amazed at what you can achieve!

It is my sacred honor to help people with their deepest and most personal issues: their ancient wounds, in their lives within and without; their deepest hopes and fears, dreams and longings, and the blocks that interfere with creating their lives and finding and birthing their Selves. It saddens me deeply to see our world being offered "quick fixes," "bandaids," and "get over it" or "transcend it" philosophies for dealing with life's deepest wounds and traumas. It saddens me to see people being offered symptom "management" instead of real healing -- managing thoughts, feelings, and more -- leaving the real wound beneath the symptom, beneath the surface to continue to haunt them in their lives. It saddens me to see our world encouraging people to repeat as adults what they did as children - repress their feelings and find defenses to keep them away. For children, this is sanity- and life-saving. For adults, this is society degrading feeling and keeping us emotionally stuck, emotionally unmatured. For adults, this is society working against our healing, our growing, our transforming, our becoming all we can be. It saddens me to see us go 'round and 'round the vicious cycle of cause and effect when we leave our own individual wounds unhealed -- deeply affecting the state of our world and our country -- and then when the state of our world and country, in turn, triggers those same unhealed wounds within us. I bring to clients a message of lasting healing, healing to the root. I help people find and claim their own wounds, commit themselves to the real work of healing inside and out, work at their organic rhythm and pace to build their capacity to feel, and more. I also help people recognize the link between their individual healing and the healing of our planet. With a passion for safety and for healing to the root, I am committed to helping heal and transform our world one-by-one and on a global scale.

I specialize in trauma-informed, attachment-based, and holistic mental health therapy for individuals aged 15 through the end of life. My work integrates evidence-based and somatic approaches to address trauma, emotional wounds, interpersonal challenges, and nervous system dysregulation. My modalities include: Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT): Helps process and reframe trauma-related thoughts and behaviors. Psychodynamic therapy: Explores unconscious patterns, past experiences, and relational dynamics. Attachment therapy: Focuses on relational wounds, attachment styles, and emotional security. Emotionally-focused therapy (EFT): Strengthens emotional awareness, connection, and expression. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR): Uses mindfulness and meditation techniques to reduce stress and increase self-awareness. Somatic Experiencing: Addresses trauma stored in the body and supports nervous system regulation. Yoga therapy: Integrates movement, breathwork, and mindfulness to promote healing. Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT): Teaches emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. My ideal client is willing to engage in self-exploration and healing, whether they are navigating trauma, relationship challenges, anxiety, depression, or life transitions. They are open to a holistic, mind-body approach and seek to deepen self-awareness, address root issues, and strengthen emotional and nervous system regulation. Their goals include: Exploring psychodynamic and attachment-based patterns. Strengthening interpersonal relationships. Releasing emotional and somatic tension. Improving communication and self-expression. Cultivating self-compassion and empowerment. I provide a safe, nonjudgmental space for you to explore deep emotional wounds, shift unhealthy patterns, and strengthen mind-body awareness. My approach supports: Empowerment and self-trust through insight and behavioral shifts. Emotional and somatic release to process and integrate trauma. Improved interpersonal relationships through. emotional expression and boundary-setting. Nervous system support to reduce overwhelm, anxiety, and stress.

I am currently taking new patients who are experiencing problems with work, school and/or relationships that are due to obsessive and problematic usage of internet/computer/video games. Depression and anxiety are often associated with excessive use of these interactive technologies. Within the past seven years, I have seen a significant rise in my practice in people who have experienced major difficulties that have been rooted in spending too much time online, or excessively involved in one or more forms of interactive technology (i.e., computer/video games). For some, it has to do with excessive internet surfing. For others, it may involve multi-user online games (e.g., World of Warcraft, Call of Duty). A growing number of people have reported spending ("wasting") hours upon hours on blogs, watching Youtube vidoes, and on Facebook, Tumblr, and other social networking sites.