What conditions do you treat?

I am trained as a generalist, which means that I am able to work with a wide variety of mental health needs. I have experience in treating anxiety, ADHD, depression, anger, alcohol and drug use, grief, trauma exposure and PTSD, and adjustment to life transitions.

My passion is in working with Millennial and Gen Z men and women who experience anxiety, imposter syndrome, perfectionism, people pleasing tendencies, and self-doubt. My patients are often kind and talented young professionals who have trouble showing up for themselves and building confidence.

What is anxiety?

We all know how anxiety feels. That sense of dread, tension, fear, and even irritability. Anxiety can look like obsessive thinking, replaying events over and over, or expecting the worst. It can make us feel physically tense, fatigued, or overwhelmed.

Sometimes these sensations come up so suddenly and intensely, that we worry about our physical health and well-being. We may even start to avoid things that make us feel anxious, which can impact our work, relationships, and satisfaction with life.

Anxiety is a necessary emotion that motivates us to take action when we encounter a threat. This was especially helpful when we had to run or hide from a lion or bear in order to ensure our survival. In today's world, we aren't encountering apex predators but our anxiety reactions are still there.

For some of us, anxiety can feel like a faulty car alarm. It’s overactive and happens for seemingly no reason. Anxiety itself is not bad or wrong, but it can become a problem when it limits our day to day activities or feels like it is taking over our life and mental health. When anxiety reaches this level, it is possible that you may have an anxiety disorder.

What causes an anxiety disorder?

For many people, anxiety is heritable. This means that if we have a family history of anxiety or depression we are more likely to also have anxiety. You may have a parent, sibling, or member of your extended family who also experiences anxiety or depression.

Anxiety is also impacted by our surroundings and our upbringing. For example, if we have a parent who thinks that strangers are dangerous and does not let us go on playdates as children, we may adopt these same beliefs and feel more anxiety around strangers or in unfamiliar environments.

Anxiety can also occur through learning. If you are bit by a dog, you may learn that dogs are unsafe. You may start avoiding dogs to reduce anxiety. In time, this may result in increased feelings of anxiety around dogs.

Anxiety can also occur during times of change. Divorce, a new marriage, career change, graduating from school, or becoming a parent can all result in increased feelings of anxiety.

Many people can experience anxiety and also have other mental health disorders. People with anxiety may also experience depression, PTSD, insomnia, eating disorders, or alcohol/substance related disorders. Some people may also experience chronic pain or unexplainable physical symptoms.

What can help to manage my anxiety?

Therapy, medication, or a combination of these two approaches can often be helpful. Treatment decisions should be made collaboratively with your physician and/or mental health provider. Your doctor and mental health provider can work as a team, with your permission.

Therapy for anxiety often involves learning skills to cope with physical symptoms, including things like nausea, difficulty breathing, or increased heart rate. Therapy also involves exploring beliefs that you hold about your anxiety and determining if these beliefs are contributing to your anxiety level. Building healthier ways of thinking can help to better cope with anxiety. Therapy also involves building confidence and increasing your contact with things you avoid.

What does therapy look like?

Initially your therapist will have an intake appointment with you. This is an opportunity to fully understand your background and history, including what is bringing you to treatment now. During the intake and the first few appointments, we will talk in depth about your specific needs and develop a plan together to improve your mental health.

Therapy generally occurs weekly or every other week. In appointments, we will talk about how you are doing, build skills, process your concerns, and actively review how treatment is going.

Therapy occurs collaboratively and with your active input and participation. It is a space for you to voice your needs, advocate for yourself, and learn the skills to transform your life outside of the therapy room.

What if I don’t have a mental health diagnosis?

Therapy can be helpful for anyone who is looking to better their life and improve how they deal with stress. Many people come to therapy when they’re adjusting to life changes, feeling dissatisfied with their job, or having problems in a relationship. Being able to talk to someone outside of your social group can help to get a third party perspective and provide additional support.

Therapy can help you set boundaries, become more assertive, and build confidence to make changes. Therapy can also give you a better understanding of yourself, how you operate, and what you value.

How can I tell if we're a good fit?

The relationship that you have with a therapist is one of the biggest factors in your healing. You should work with a provider that you feel comfortable with and confident that they can meet your unique needs.

I offer a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation to all new patients. This is an opportunity to get to know one another, discuss your specific treatment needs, and for you to ask any questions you may have for me.

I'm interested, what happens next?

I'm so glad we feel like a good fit! The first step is to schedule a free consultation.

After our initial consultation, we will schedule an intake appointment together. I will also send you an email link to register for my secure electronic medical record (EMR). After registering for the EMR, I will send you documents to complete before our first appointment. We will review these documents together in our first visit.

How does billing work?

I am an out of network provider, which means that I am not paneled with any insurance companies. I can provide you with a superbill which you may submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement.

Before we schedule our first appointment, I advise calling your insurance and asking them about coverage for out of network providers, including:

• Do I have out of network coverage in my plan?
• What percentage or amount do they reimburse for out of network providers?
• Do I have to meet a deductible before getting reimbursed by insurance? If so, how high is my deductible?

What if I need help now?

I review and respond to all calls and emails received within 24-48 hours. I am not an emergency contact.

If you are having a mental health emergency, please call 911 or visit your local emergency room. You can also text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line) or call 988 to speak with someone live (Suicide Prevention Lifeline)

If you live in Massachusetts you can call 1-800-981-4357 (Boston area) or 1-877-382-1609 to speak with the Mobile Crisis Team. This may be an alternative to going to the emergency room.

If you live in Indiana, you can call 317-621-5700 (option #1) to speak with Community Hospital's 24-hour crisis line.