Specialties
My areas of specialty — although they might not seem at all related — are all connected by the same underlying threads: negative thinking — a struggle to manage or tolerate uncomfortable feelings — uncertainty — a lack of control.
Because of these connections, you may find that you fall into more than one of these categories. Take heart, that’s not at all uncommon.
Creating Healthy Habits & Lifestyle Changes
You know what you’d like to do.
You’ve made a plan and are prepared. You start off strong; you execute perfectly for about three to six weeks… but you slip up, and then it’s all over. You lose your mojo. You can’t stick with it: you’ve failed… again. You’re likely effective and competent — even awesome! — in other areas of your life, but in this one space you struggle to get it together. It’s really important to you to make these changes, and you may feel some shame around being unable to do so, frustration with your repeated lack of progress, and fear that you’ll never be able to figure it out, it’ll never happen.
Worry, Social Anxiety, & Panic
Your worries have hijacked your life.
You struggle to be present in it. You ruminate, about things that have happened (“did I say something stupid?”) or that may happen (“what if I get fired?”), and cannot stop or control the avalanche of thoughts. Your worry may show up physically: heart pounding, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, trembling hands, sweating. Or, these sensations may show up out of the blue and, in the worst cases, it may escalate to the point that you feel like you’re having a heart attack, and you truly think you’re going to die.
Health Anxiety
The doctor told you you’re not sick...
And the test results came back fine, but your life is consumed by the fear that you’re actually seriously ill, or will develop some serious illness in the future. You’re constantly checking in with your body. And, researching symptoms, conditions, and causes online. There is no respite from the fear; you struggle to fully engage in thinking of, or doing, anything else, as it’s always there. And, it’s causing havoc in your relationships; although your friends and family try to reassure you, it works only for a short while, and they may be becoming frustrated.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
You experience intrusive thoughts.
The most extremely scary, catastrophic thoughts (obsessions). Nothing you do can make them stop. But it feels like you can manage them, sometimes, if you do the thing (compulsions) that will make sure you’re safe or that will prevent something bad from happening. The compulsions can vary greatly. For some, it’s something concrete like handwashing, but for others, it’s a mental ritual like reassuring yourself, mentally reviewing, or trying to rationalize to eliminate doubt. But, the compulsions are a trap… because they don’t really solve the problem, they just keep you stuck in a repetitive pattern that’s not serving you, and they don’t really keep you safe after all.
Stress & Transition
You’re overwhelmed.
You struggle to find balance between work and life. You can’t get it all done and you feel like you’re definitely not doing enough. And, it seems there is never a reprieve; it feels as though ‘it’s always something’ and you’ll never be free to just relax (and even if you were, you’re not sure you’d know how!).
This overwhelm and stress may be caused by big changes in your life. You’re in transition. The sand is shifting beneath your feet, leaving you feeling unsteady, uncertain. You may even feel like you’re flailing. The unknown, the unanswered questions (“what’s next?”), even if it’s a good change, can be really uncomfortable. And, often the more you try to plan, the worse you feel.
Self-Criticism & Low Self-Confidence
You’re your own worst critic.
You would never speak to anyone else the way you speak to yourself. No matter how hard you try, and no matter what you accomplish, you feel guilty, inadequate, not good enough. Your standards, for yourself, are incredibly high, unreasonable even, although you’re able to give grace to others. You put others before yourself and struggle to say no. And then, as a result, you’re depleted, and then resentful of the time you give to others.
Creating a Sense of Purpose & Meaning
You feel stuck. You’re dissatisfied.
You’re tired of simply surviving — or just tolerating — your life. You may find your work, your relationships, maybe even the general course of your life, unsatisfying. Perhaps you remember a time when you had zest for life, a sparkle. But, you lost it somehow. Or… maybe you’ve never really had it. Maybe you’re struggling to find that energy, that gusto, that gumption for the first time. A sense of purpose or direction — even a clear sense of your identity — eludes you at the moment. You have no idea what the next best step is for you. But, you do know you’re ready to truly live. You’re ready to figure out what is most important to you, and to live in alignment with those values.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
There is a very real connection between the gut and the brain.
And it’s a two-way street: anxiety and depression can create and worsen gut symptoms, and vice versa, the experience of distress in the gut can create or exacerbate mental health difficulties. If you have IBS, you may, because of this condition, worry about or feel defeated by the limits it has placed on your life. You may have developed worries about food. You may avoid going out or frequently cancel plans. You feel anxious for days about eating out or traveling. You may believe that living this way is “intolerable,” that you’re “helpless,” or that this is “terrible and it’s not going to get any better.”
If you see yourself in these descriptions, please reach out.
There is hope. My approach to therapy is evidence-based for these specific conditions, and I’ve had the honor and privilege of helping and supporting many clients in overcoming these very same struggles. Don’t get me wrong… It’s work, but the only way out is through.
Most Asked Questions
When Beginning Therapy
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Almost. I must be licensed in the state I am in (Connecticut), as well as the state my client is in. Because I’m licensed in the states of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, and Kentucky, I can see you if you live — or are physically located — in one of these five states, or in a participating PSYPACT state (which at this point is most of the U.S.), at the time of our session.
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I work with individual adults aged 25 to 65. I do not treat adolescents or children. I also do not provide family or couples therapy.
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Please review the Specialties page to ensure that what you’re struggling with is an area of specialty for me.
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$350 for the first two-hour session, $250 for subsequent 45- to 50-minute sessions.
No, I do not accept insurance. I have a self-pay arrangement with my clients, and accept payment in the form of a credit or HSA card.
If your insurance company offers out-of-network reimbursement, I can provide Superbills when appropriate.
You may obtain a Good Faith Estimate of charges upon request prior to scheduling.
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I am in the office Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, and see clients between the hours of 9:00 and 5:00.
I recognize that my hours may coincide with your work hours. However, my clients and I have found that, because they are able to log on remotely, they have been able to schedule a session during their lunch hour, or on a day when they’re working from home. Telehealth has proven immensely beneficial to many of my clients, allowing them to prioritize their self-care and fit therapy into their busy lives in a way a session that requires a commute does not.
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I do ask all potential clients to review this information, in The Most Important FAQs for Potential Clients, to ensure that my policies are in line with your expectations. (If you reach out and you’ve read through these questions already, please mention it!)
If so, then we schedule an initial consultation call. Over a 20 to 30 minute phone call, you can tell me a bit about your specific situation, and I can talk with you about what working with me might look like. Then, we make sure we’re on the same page as far as logistics and, if we’re on the same page at that point, we can look at scheduling.
You can reach me directly by filling out the Contact form or sending me an email. I hope to hear from you soon!