It’s kind of a long story…
here’s the abridged version.

The Long Way Here

Healthcare was my first language, mom a physician and dad a nurse, so a career in it felt inevitable. It just took me a while to find which one. When I entered Bryn Mawr College I was initially drawn to biology, but the moment I discovered psychology, it was love at first sight. With a psychology degree in hand and no plans to become a therapist, I launched my career at Thomas Jefferson University as a research assistant, working simultaneously alongside a clinical psychologist on suicide screening initiatives and with a psychiatrist on outpatient antidepressant clinical trials. That suicide prevention work evolved into obtaining and then managing a SAMHSA grant to build JeffHELP, a mental health and suicide prevention program designed to support healthcare students at the university.

At the same time, I was chipping away at nursing prerequisites and logging over 1,200 volunteer hours by night at Jefferson’s Level 1 Trauma ER. Again, I was hooked. I deeply appreciated connecting with people from all walks of life, albeit usually on their not-so-best day, hearing their stories, and standing in awe of both the resilience and fragility of human life. Perhaps the greatest lesson was recognizing that I couldn’t make the test results come faster, change the diagnosis, or make the endless, relentless beeping stop, but I could provide steady silence, listening ears, or a welcome distraction. I remember constantly thinking, “If only there was some way to do this every day and be paid for it.” But it didn’t register.

During nursing school clinicals, I was continually frustrated by the lack of time I had to connect deeply with patients and maintain nursing care. I was always more interested in the person and their story than the clinical tasks. Finally, I listened to that little voice inside and withdrew from the program.

Shortly after, my life as a military spouse began, and I found myself in Okinawa, Japan. Being halfway across the world with limited career options forced a period of deep soul-searching and serious career re-evaluation. At last, the answer to the question that kept eluding me finally arrived. I enrolled in a Marriage and Family Therapy program. After completing my clinical internship and half of my associateship at Forward Together Counseling in Silver Spring, Maryland, where I built a strong foundation in systemic therapy practice, the military had other plans for me, again, which led to the creation of Polaris Therapy.

How I Work

In my clinical work, I borrow Michelangelo’s view of sculpting: the figure is already complete inside the marble, and the sculptor’s job is to chisel away what doesn’t belong. The work is holistic and systemic, so we look at the mind, the body, your environment, and even the spirit. Together, we examine your patterns, past and present, such as self-doubt, low self-worth, burnout, people-pleasing, perfectionism, and unhealed trauma. None of these are flaws. They are habits that once protected you and no longer serve you, and they now hide the masterpiece that was there all along. We never use force. We take careful, diligent steps, and we chip away until your authentic, aligned, empowered self is revealed again.

Off the Clock

Originally from the greater Philadelphia area, I’ve moved eighteen times, lived on both coasts, and spent several years in Japan. I live with my active-duty husband and son, and I am a servant to two cats. When not in the therapist’s chair, I’m usually in the garden, working on an interior design project, reading nonfiction, or exploring new restaurants.