Clinician Biography & Therapeutic Approach
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The Equinox Center (formerly Achieve Balance Counseling, LLC, 2015-2024) was born of my deep desire to provide individualized, focused, holistic care in a welcoming atmosphere. My passion for this work continues to grow as I am so fulfilled by bearing witness to the personal evolution of each of the people and partnerships I have the pleasure of working with.
My professional experience has afforded me opportunities to work with individuals and families in a variety of settings. I started my career as a certified Substance Abuse Counselor, and I've worked extensively with survivors of trauma and abuse, as well as with youth in foster care and their families. Having recognized an unmet demand in the community, I have centered my work around sexual wellness since 2020. I am engaged in a comprehensive training program facilitated by the Sexual Health Alliance on my path to becoming an AASECT (American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists)-certified Sex Therapist. I provide compassionate, affirming, strengths-based care to people who aim to address issues related to sexual health: sexual (dys)function, compulsive behaviors, pleasure, sexual trauma, attitudes about sex and sexuality, & body image. Sexual orientation, specific interests (kink), gender identity & fluidity exploration is affirmed; alternative relationship dynamics are welcomed and celebrated. Though I have largely transitioned to providing therapy with a focus on sex and sexuality, I continue to serve individuals seeking support to address a variety of circumstances and conditions including: AD(H)D, anxiety and mood disorders, relational and vocational functioning, parenting matters, and life transitions. My approach to therapy is eclectic and integrative, informed by a variety of evidence-based practices which I blend to provide care tailored to the individual needs of every person I work with. I am predominately a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy-oriented clinician, because I believe deeply in the power of the individual to change their life by way of understanding the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and behavior. A psychodynamic approach is used, too, to help us gain insight into the origins of our thought and behavioral patterns. I embrace the principles of somatic and vagal therapies, in recognition that the mind and body are inextricable, that wellness comes by way of tending to the Whole Self--mind and body. The science and art of healing and coping through the practices of mindfulness and gratitude are often explored in my work. Maintaining a warm but straightforward, results-focused approach to therapy, I engage my clients in evidence-informed practice that unfolds at their own pace. Education: I earned a Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Maryland Baltimore, a Bachelors in Social Work from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and Associates degrees in Human Services and Substance Abuse from Anne Arundel Community College. |