hello!

I am a mental health therapist in Pittsburgh, PA with a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Chatham University. I am on track to complete the requirements for a license in professional counseling within the next 1-2 years. I currently work at Sensory and Sensibility, a small yet wonderful group practice, out of the North Oakland office. I divide my time between there and my home office, where my two sweet tabby cats often make appearances during teletherapy.

I have five years of mental health experience in both direct practice and research. My experiences have centered around the queer and trans community, complex trauma, and neurodivergence. I have a special interest in providing therapy to adult adoptees, being a transracial adoptee myself. I also see many people of color and consider racial/cultural identities and marginalization when conceptualizing mental health. I am an advocate for sex workers, kink, poly, and ethical non-monogamy communities. I love writing gender-affirming surgery letters for trans folks at any opportunity.

I aim to promote anti-oppression, liberation, and disability justice in my practice. I am conscious of interlocking systems of oppression and how these impact psychological wellbeing. I operate from frameworks of body neutrality, health at every size, social models of disability, anti-capitalism, and intersectionality. Clinically, I utilize a hodgepodge of interventions from person-centered, feminist, narrative, attachment, and cognitive behavioral therapies/theories. I tend to conceptualize the present as it relates to the past, with a focus on the effects of adverse childhood experiences. I want clients to feel empowered as active collaborators in their mental health journey and to show up authentically both in and out of therapy.

Outside of work, you will most likely find me chilling at home with my cats, an audiobook/vinyl, and some yummy local food (my favorite is Thai Gourmet).

These are my coworkers, Lizzie and Little Man, who might make an appearance during teletherapy sessions.

Don’t worry, I promise they won’t violate HIPAA. ☺

  • Mental Health Counselor, Sensory and Sensibility LLC, Pittsburgh, PA | 05/2023 - present

    ✧ Build, schedule, and maintain a caseload of diverse clientele, with an emphasis on those who are LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent, POC, and/or adopted

    ✧ Provide individual psychotherapy services including client consultation, intake assessments, and ongoing weekly or biweekly appointments

    ✧ Provide mental health assessments and letters of referral for gender-affirming surgery

    ✧ Utilize a unique constellation of theoretical orientations and interventions, including person-centered therapy, anti-oppressive frameworks, CBT, DBT, family systems, narrative therapy, and structured problem-solving

    ✧ Assess for and diagnose mental illness using assessment inventories, semi-structured interview, biopsychosocial history taking, and ICD-10 codes for billing

    ✧ Develop and implement 90- and 180-day treatment plans with short- and long-term goals/objectives tailored to clients' collaboratively decided needs

    ✧ Complete daily progress notes (including MMSE, presenting problems, and interventions used) to submit for insurance billing

    ✧ Participate in regular ongoing clinical supervision in an individual and group capacity to complete required hours for LPC licensure in the state of PA

    ✧ Utilize SimplePractice EHR software for teletherapy, client management, note and treatment plan submissions, document sharing, and communication

    Counselor Intern, Central Outreach Wellness Center, Pittsburgh, PA | 04/2022 - 04/2023

    ✧ Provide individual psychotherapy to members of the LGBTQIA+ community under the supervision of a licensed psychologist

    ✧ Co-facilitate weekly Trans, Non-binary, and Gender Non-Conforming support group

    ✧ Maintain consistent caseload of 10+ patients weekly

    ✧ Conduct biopsychosocial intake assessments for new patients seeking mental health care and/or medication management

    ✧ Conduct intake assessments for patients seeking gender-affirming surgery and assist in writing surgery letters

    ✧ Develop individualized treatment plans including patient-reported goals, short-term objectives, and functional, actionable steps

    ✧ Participate in weekly team-based supervision utilizing integrated/collaborative care models with MDs, CRNPs, LPCs, LCSWs, MAs, and PAs

    Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapist, NeuroRestorative, Pittsburgh, PA | 03/2022 - present

    ✧ Provide cognitive rehabilitation therapy to individuals with acquired or traumatic brain injuries utilizing the EPSA (education, process training, strategy development, functional application) model in home, community, or work settings

    ✧ Retrain cognitive, household, and executive functioning skills such as attention, memory, flexible thinking, planning, self-monitoring, time management, organization, budgeting, appointment tracking, task initiation, emotional control, decision making, logic and reasoning, communication, processing speed, etc.

    ✧ Educate clients on brain injury impacts, strategies to improve quality of life and cognitive deficits

    ✧ Develop and facilitate process training activities that are both interesting to the client and allow for areas of difficulty to be strengthened through continuums of time, cueing, speed, and complexity

    ✧ Assist client in developing strategies to continue to strengthen their deficits and improve QOL, and help them apply and utilize these strategies in natural settings, to gradually fade dependence and increase independence over time

    ✧ Collaborate with therapists, clinical coordinators, administrative staff, clients, family members, caregivers, coworkers, healthcare workers, etc.

    Project Director, Residential Care Services, Pittsburgh, PA | 08/2020 - 02/2022

    ✧ Manage the seven staff, seven residents, and daily operations of a Community Residential Rehabilitation (CRR) apartment program for adults with mental health diagnoses

    ✧ Communicate effectively in treatment team meetings, phone calls, emails, performance reviews, etc.

    ✧ Develop collaborative recovery plans to gauge individuals’ progress and address needs in domains such as mental health awareness, personal recovery, and daily living skills

    ✧ Conduct intake assessment interviews to determine program eligibility based on level of care needed and program fit

    ✧ Provide crisis intervention, informal counseling, and informal service coordination/resource connection to clients

    Therapist, Alliance Health, Pittsburgh, PA | 01/2020 - 07/2020

    ✧ Provide one-on-one therapeutic behavioral interventions to children with mental health diagnoses and developmental disabilities such as ADHD, autism, and Oppositional Defiant Disorder

    ✧ Perform services in schools, daycares, homes, and other environments to best meet youths’ needs

    ✧ Implement tailored treatment plan in coordination with a Master’s-level Behavior Specialist Consultant

    ✧ Collaborate with teachers, community personnel, and family members to implement treatment goals

    Community Living Support Intern, ACHIEVA, Pittsburgh, PA | 05/2019 - 08/2019

    ✧ Recognized and redirected inappropriate, maladaptive behavioral patterns of adults with intellectual disabilities within a residential environment

    ✧ Determined what is significant to these individuals and aided them in living their most independent and meaningful lives using person-centered planning

    ✧ Documented changes in mood or behavior, along with completing various other charts for Pennsylvania state licensing procedures

    ✧ Communicated with behavior specialists on observed prosocial and maladaptive behavior

    ✧ Assisted individuals with basic and instrumental Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

    Achievement Consultant, Ruth’s Way, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA | 01/2019 - 04/2019

    ✧ Facilitated achievement program curriculum semiweekly for female youth participants (grades 3 to 11), girls with behavioral health issues and trauma histories, through after-school programs

    ✧ Provided therapeutic mentor support to program participants as a safe space for curiosity, disclosure, and authenticity

    ✧ Maintain personal files and assessments for each child, maintaining confidentiality and privacy

    ✧ Conducted meetings with family members to assess each individual situation and develop a personalized goal plan for the child’s success

    ✧ Emphasized strength-based approaches in all proceedings

    ✧ Distributed surveys/assessments that measured perceptions of in-school behavior, strength of family relationships, safety/validation at home, etc.

  • Master of Science, Counseling Psychology | Chatham University, Pittsburgh, PA | 01/20-04/23

    summa cum laude

    Bachelor of Arts, Psychology | Chatham University, Pittsburgh, PA | 08/17-04/2020

    summa cum laude

    Certificate, Gendered Leadership | Chatham University, Pittsburgh, PA | 2020

  • Independent Research Study: Psychology of Racism and Anti-Racism | Chatham University | 2023

    This study approaches racism and anti-racism through the frames of trauma, racial awareness development, and narrative therapy. Through journaling, readings, dialogue, and auto-ethnography (critical autobiography), this study is designed to enable personal healing and the development of a mature, anti-racist identity as an integral part of helping others heal from the harms of racism.

    Independent Research Study: Adoption: History, Ethics, and Biopsychosocial Impacts | Chatham University | 2022

    This study explores the domestic and international infant adoption industry and its implications for adoptees, first parents, and adoptive families. This includes viewing adoption as a traumatic event from a developmental perspective, impacting adoptees on neurological, psychological, and societal levels. 'This will be accomplished through articles, books, presentations, websites, podcasts, and assignments regarding facets of adoption ranging from history and ethics to psychopathology and counseling interventions.

    Principal Investigator, Independent Research Study | Chatham University | 2020

    Developed researched project, “Facial dissatisfaction prompts selfie-editing behavior, leading to appearance modification attempts.” Conducted data analyses through the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).

    Research Assistant, Toxic/White Fragility Project | Chatham University | 2020

    Developed and wrote a case study analysis comparing the Christchurch Mosque and El Paso Walmart shootings, which had overlapping motives behind their perpetration, and even a direct link between perpetrators. In conjunction with class, What Is Evil.

    Research Assistant, LGBTQA+ Campus Climate Survey | Chatham University | 2019

    Created survey modules assessing discrimination and victimization against members of the LGBTQA+ student population on the campus of Chatham University. These modules were used in a widely distributed campus climate survey to assess risk factors and reduce gender- and sexuality-based violence on campus. Conducted analyses through SPSS.

    Psychology of Gender Research Team | Chatham University | 2018

    Transcribed interviews for qualitative research study on the experiences of underprivileged adolescent girls in their schools. Topics include attitudes surrounding dating, body image, sexuality, objectification, etc.

  • Facial Dissatisfaction Prompts Selfie-Editing Behavior, Leading to Appearance Modification Attempts | NCA 106th Annual Convention, Indianapolis, IN | November 2020

    Independent research study accepted to National Communication Association conference, Communication at the Crossroads. Study covered taking and posting self-photographs on social media, and the way that editing behavior generates negative body-image related concerns such as body dissatisfaction. Various relationships are explained using Roger’s Self Theory and the concept of self-actualizing tendency.

  • Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse: Mandated and Permissive Reporting in Pennsylvania | University of Pittsburgh | 2024

    Psychology degree programs | Chatham University | 2017-2023

    • Relevant coursework: Culture and Identity, Assessment, Group Counseling, Vocational/Career, Crisis/Trauma/Recovery, Biomedical and Research Ethics, Human Trafficking, Social Work/Justice/Issues, Medical Terminology, Biopsychology, Positive Psychology, Psychology of Racism and Anti-Racism, Adoption Trauma

    Crisis Prevention | CPI | 2022

    HIPAA, HITECH, and Omnibus Rule | Compliance Publishing Corporation | 2022

    Adult/Infant/Child First Aid/CPR/AED | HSI | 2022

    Gendered Leadership | Chatham University | 2020

  • Graduate Psychology Social Justice Award | Chatham University | 2023

    Graduate Student Award of Professional Excellence | Chatham University | 2023

    HAPPY (Healthcare Alliance Promoting Pittsburgh Youth) Fellow | Behavioral Health Workforce Education & Training Program | 2021

    Presidential Scholarship Award | Chatham University | 2017

  • Welcome Aboard Mentor | Chatham University | 2021-2022

    Assisted Chatham first-year students with things such as personal or professional goals, the transition to college, interests and campus involvement, how the college experience translates to the workplace, networking, and professional development. Provide a professional experience.

    Anti-Racism Bloomfield | Pittsburgh, PA | 2020-2022

    Community members of my former neighborhood of Bloomfield in Pittsburgh formed a collective following the murder of George Floyd to discuss ways to engage in anti-racist practices and action (e.g. persuasive letter-writing to politicians concerning certain bills or votes, petition-signing, sharing resources, fundraising, organizing speaker events, etc.)

  • Microsoft Office package: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint

    Google Office package: Docs, Sheets, Slides

    Electronic Health Record Software: Simple Practice, Kareo, PrecisionCare

    Telehealth software: Doxy, Zoom

    Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS)