I provide individual counseling to adults age 18 and older. My office is located in Gloucester, MA, and I also offer telehealth services through a HIPAA compliant site. Though I’m based in the North Shore of Boston, the flexibility of telehealth allows me to work with clients who live across the state of Massachusetts.
Office Hours: Monday-Wednesday, 8am-8pm and Thursday, 8am-1pm
Our journey begins with a free 15-minute phone consultation. This is a brief opportunity for you to ask me questions and to share about your reason for seeking therapy. If you feel comfortable, we can schedule our first 50-minute session at the time of the consultation call. At our first session, I will inquire about your life – historical and present – and also offer some initial impressions. This is also a time for you to be thinking about if my approach will work for you.
By the end of the first three sessions, I will share my assessment and recommendations. If we decide to work together, we will establish goals based on your input and your priorities. Therapy is most effective when trust can be established and if my knowledge and experience will benefit you. There are occasions where I will refer a client to another provider during the first three sessions – in cases where we establish that my approach or areas of expertise would not be the best fit for your therapeutic needs.
My general role is to offer you insights into your experiences. You will be offered evidenced-based-treatment and can expect to be an active part in your therapy. This includes deciding together how often we meet, setting goals for your therapy experience, and regular check-ins about progress moving forward.
I see the willingness to seek therapy as a sign that you want to better understand yourself and your life. I offer my insights, guidance, and therapeutic tools – but you must be willing to invest in yourself, gain insight and practice the skills you obtain in therapy in your day-to-day life. Therapy is an investment in yourself and it’s important to allow the time to self-reflect. I am present for your journey, similar to a trail guide, though you are the one navigating the terrain and deciding the direction of the trail. My support comes with knowledge and experience of the terrain, and the ultimate goal is that you draw upon your intuition and inner guidance to help you navigate your path. To learn more about my experience which has informed my practice, you can read more here.
In the early part of therapy with my clients, they often experience clarity through an increased awareness and understanding of their current circumstances which leads to a greater sense of peace and comfort. This sets the foundation for deeper work. If your life circumstances are creating significant mental or emotional dysregulation, then we focus on regulation during the beginning of our work together.
There are endless reasons we seek professional support. Anyone is susceptible to experiencing a physical or mental health issue that impacts their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Anyone can have exposure to a traumatic experience that impacts their day-to-day functioning. Sometimes loss, life transitions, difficult decisions, and stress are the catalysts for therapy. Seeking greater existential understanding and a deeper connection to your spirituality are also reasons for seeking professional support. I also work with individuals who have experienced oppression, discrimination, and other systemic issues that impact us on the personal level.
Therapy can be short term or long term, depending on your needs and preferences. This is something we discuss early on. Most often, clients pause treatment or meet less frequently when they begin to feel better and have increased trust in themselves. I believe that the primary outcome of successful therapy should be improved quality of life and a deeper sense of self.
You can read more clinical information about the tools I use in therapy and areas of experience here.
I believe that finances should not stand in the way of quality therapy. I participate with the Blue Cross / Blue Shield Insurance Plan, though most other carriers offer out-of-network benefits that cover therapy with an LICSW. If you do not have Blue Cross / Blue Shield and choose to pay out-of-pocket for sessions, I can provide a statement for you to send to your insurance company for reimbursement.