My practice
I am a clinical social worker licensed in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. My pronouns are she/her. I practice as a generalist and have experience working with diverse adults and adolescents experiencing a range of concerns, including: anxiety, depression, identity exploration, LGBTQ+ issues, relationship challenges, perinatal mental health concerns and the transition to parenthood, other life transitions, low self-esteem, grief and loss, allergies and chronic health conditions, adoption-related issues, and more. Proficient in Mandarin Chinese and having lived abroad, I am also very interested in cross-cultural concerns.
My style is warm, nonjudgmental, and collaborative. I aim to create a safe environment for us to better understand your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. I take a psychodynamic approach to therapy, helping you develop greater insight and self-awareness as we explore both the origins of your concerns and how these challenges affect you today. I also integrate cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness techniques to help you change unhelpful patterns of thinking and build new coping skills. I have found that many people who come to therapy have lost sight of or are unaware of their own considerable strengths, and I will work with you to help you recognize and build on these inner resources. Through our work, you will come to know yourself more deeply, opening new possibilities for change and growth.
Background and Training
I received my Bachelor of Arts from Middlebury College and my Master of Social Work from Catholic University. I have experience providing psychotherapy in private practice, an outpatient mental health clinic, a university counseling center, and a non-profit serving youth in foster care and adoptive families. I also hold a graduate certificate in Chinese Studies from the Johns Hopkins University-Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies, which is part of Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).
To continue honing my skills and to stay up to date on the latest developments in the field of psychotherapy, I engage in regular training, consultation, and continuing education. I have completed a two-year advanced postgraduate training program in psychodynamic therapy through the Institute of Contemporary Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis (ICP+P). I have also completed advanced psychotherapy training in perinatal mental health through Postpartum Support International (PSI), one of the leading organizations dedicated to addressing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders as well as the transition to parenthood. Additional recent trainings I have completed include: the Relational psychoanalytic approach to treating trauma, a year-long institute on Relational perspectives in psychotherapy, and another year-long institute on the connections between attachment, trauma, neurobiology, and the body. I have also served on the Board of ICP+P as the Co-Coordinator for Short Courses. In this capacity, I worked to organize high quality continuing education programs for therapists and therapists-in-training.
Professional Affiliations
