About Me

 

Credentials:

After completing my Bachelors in Psychology, I began working for The New England Center for Children, a nonprofit autism research and education center in Southborough Mass.   I began as a special education teacher implementing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) interventions to children ages 3-18 years old.  ABA helps children with autism and  other developmental delays overcome the learning and communication deficits and behavioral excesses of individuals with autism. I then became a residential supervisor to a staff intensive unit for 7 children with severe behavioral and emotional disorders. I had the pleasure of supervising 20 teachers and creating individualized treatment plans for the children on the unit. My goal as the residential supervisor was to help every child learn ways to communicate effectively, decrease their maladaptive behaviors, and improve family dynamics.

 I graduated Magna Cum Laude with my Masters in Counseling Psychology in 2004 and began working for South Bay Mental Health agency in Brockton, Mass as a mental health counselor and mentor. During my 5 years with South Bay, I worked with many children and families with mental health issues and severe impairments. I completed my licensing requirements and became a a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in 2010 and began my private practice.   

The majority of my clients in private practice are children and adolescents with anxiety, OCD, Depression, and grief. I provide services that are individualized and tailored to the needs of children and families. I  also coordinate care with other providers (psychiatrists, primary care physicians, school officials) to ensure that patient’s needs and information sharing across people, functions, and sites are met during treatment. 

My AREAS OF EXPERTISE  include, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, ERP, ACT and play therapy.  I have completed extensive training in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Exposure response prevention by IOCDF.org.

I also work with adults, so don't hesitate to CONTACT me with any questions you may have. 

CONFIDENTIALITY AND your PRIVACY

Protecting your privacy and confidentiality is extremely important to me and is an integral part of establishing a working relationship and mutual trust. My privacy policy is designed to be individualized and especially strict, particularly to accommodate children and adolescents and clients who consider themselves high profile. Regardless of your situation, I take your privacy very seriously. 

PRIVACY POLICY FOR INDIVIDUAL THERAPY:

Without written authorization from you in a release of information form, I am unable to communicate to anyone regarding your treatment.  It is your choice whether I communicate with providers and family members. It is also your choice to limit information provided to an outside party.  In some cases I may recommend a release to include an emergency contact and/or a physician, but ultimately, the decision is yours. 

MY UNDER 18 THERAPY POLICY:

If you are under the age of 18, your parents have to give legal consent for you to receive services. To protect the privacy of children and adolescents in treatment,  I will not release records to any parent without a Subpoena from court or permission to release from the child/adolescent.  My privacy polciy and confidentiality will be reviewed wtih the parents during the intake session and then with the child/adolecent during their session.  For the most part, I encourage families to agree to keep what is said in individual sessions between you (a minor) and me private, unless I am concerned for your health or safety. (Also, see below, limits to confidentiality.) 

LIMITS TO CONFIDENTIALITY:

There are a few rare instances when I am legally and ethically obligated to break our confidentiality:

  • If you are a danger to yourself or others.

  • If you tell me about current abuse by you or someone else against a child, elderly, dependent, or disabled person.

  • If I am subpoenaed and ordered by a judge to divulge records/session content; this may include cases of worker’s compensation claims (if related to your treatment with me). Please note, session notes are a brief summary of symptoms discussed and treatment modality discussed. (For instance, anxiety was discussed, CBT skills reviewed, homework assigned)