I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and President of the American Academy of Psychotherapists. I received a bachelors in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1995. I worked for several years at the Center For Developmental Science on a longitudinal study exploring risk and resilience factors within families. I attended graduate school and received my MSW from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2005.

WORK EXPERIENCE
I spent 10 years in community mental health settings and  started at Easter Seals UCP in Durham where I led groups (Anxiety and Depression, DBT, Illness Management and Recovery and provided individual psychotherapy to adults with various mental health concerns including depression, anxiety, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, trauma, substance abuse, etc. I was clinical faculty at UNC-CH in the Department of Psychiatry working in the STEP Clinic (Schizophrenia Treatment and Evaluation Program), I led a women’s psychotherapy group as well as provided individual psychotherapy to adults with psychotic disorders, mood disorders, PTSD/Complex Trauma, etc.

In 2013 I branched out into private practice working at Carolina Partners in Mental Healthcare in their Chapel Hill office where I worked with adults dealing with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, trauma/PTSD, obsessive compulsive disorder, eating disorders, personality disorders, alcohol abuse, grief and loss, divorce, and personal growth.

I started my own private practice in 2014 and have continued in private practice ever since..

I often tell people I am fortunate to have found a profession where I can do what I love and be who I am and get paid for it. I receive much joy in working with people to develop compassion for and deeper understanding of themselves and others.

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PSYCHOTHERAPISTS
I am President of the American Academy of Psychotherapists.                      I became a member in 2014. AAP is a multidisciplinary community of psychotherapists dedicated to developing the person of the therapist. It was founded in 1955 by Henry Guze, Jules Barron, and Albert Ellis, the American Academy of Psychotherapists was one of the first professional organizations to bring together practitioners of different disciplines who were interested in innovative clinical practice. Our first president was Carl Rogers. A basic premise is that who we are as therapists significantly impacts the therapy with our clients. AAP requires members to have undergone at least 2 years of personal psychotherapy (100 hours), have several recommendations from current members, and is then voted on by the Executive Council. We are focused on growing ourselves as individuals as well as our clinical skills.

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PERSONAL

I am a Gen Xer who grew up in Wilmington, NC. I was a single mother of two boys who are now 17                          and 21. I have been visually impaired since age 14. I've experienced my own history of                          trauma and grief/loss which has influenced my desire to focus on those two areas of                          treatment and make them two of my specialties. I embrace humor, especially dark                               humor when it is called for, and love watching stand-up comedy. I'm an extrovert and value human connection.  I will admit that I have one computer video game that I play a lot. My boys tease me because I'm actually extremely good at it, which is ironic given I'm visually impaired!

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"Laugh as much as possible, always laugh. It's the sweetest thing one can do for oneself & one's fellow human beings." –Maya Angelou

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