Therapy is a space to explore, name and learn from one's experiences, oppressions, feelings and somatic responses and can be a tremendous gateway to healing and change. All are welcome in this space. I specialize in grief and loss - anticipatory, complicated, traumatic, and acute, development & attachment trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression as well as life transitions.

I offer a warm, empathetic, non-judgemental presence, centering the space to one's lived and ancestral experiences, and therapeutic intentions. I work collaboratively to create a safe and trusting space. I aim to make mind and body connections, to open space for self-compassion, to facilitate awareness of emotions - both the comfortable and uncomfortable ones - and what they have to say, to create healthy flexible boundaries and to develop coping strategies.

I identify as a white, cisgendered, female and understand this is a privileged identity. I am attuned to the identities of race, class, sex, gender, sexuality, body type and national origin you hold and use an anti-oppression framework to help facilitate tending to and mending the parts of you that feel shame or pain from the impact of oppression.

In addition to my work with Our Collective, I have worked at an outpatient community mental health clinic; and served as a grief counselor at the Wendt Center for Loss and Healing. I received my MSW from Catholic University and I have a Masters in Public Administration from UMD. Prior to therapy, I worked in education administration for 10 years and as a grassroots organizer and social justice advocate. 

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I have a Level I Certificate for Advanced Trauma Treatment and I am trained in EMDR. In addition to formal graduate and professional development training, my lived experiences, mentors, and clients have been invaluable teachers.  

I am a first generation American, my parents were born in the Netherlands. I've lived in DC for 25 years but grew up in Michigan. I started my social work career by teaching social work in Romania in the mid-90’s. Nothing grounds me more than water, especially Lake Michigan. Hiking brings me great joy, especially in Rock Creek. I love to create through printmaking, writing letters and cooking. I can lose myself in board games, jigsaw puzzles, friends, and music.  And I can never get enough travel!