About Me
The Therapeutic Relationship
My Education and Training
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The Therapeutic Relationship
I believe that the relationship between the therapist and the counselor is the most important and foundational element to the therapeutic process and it is essential that the therapist be warm, caring and genuine. I strive to develop an empathic and intuitive understanding of my clients, yet also create an environment where they can be challenged to grow as they create change in their life, develop new coping skills, and find new ways of being. Although I have many years of training and experience, I see the client as the expert on their own life and see my role as one of support, guidance and information.
My Education and Training
Currently, in addition to a private practice, I serve as the Coordinator for Clinical Training in the Counseling Psychology program at Loyola University Chicago, and teach classes in counseling skills, diagnostics and assessment, professional identity, and human development. I also provide clinical supervision and professional mentoring to students in our counseling and psychology programs.
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I received a doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Loyola University Chicago in 2006 with a concentration in Multicultural Counseling and Consultation. I completed doctoral level clinical training at the Cook County Hospital adult outpatient clinic, the School of the Art Institute counseling center and I did my pre-doctoral internship at the University of California – Davis counseling center. After graduating from Loyola, I worked at the DePaul University counseling center for more than 7 years as a staff therapist, coordinator of the group counseling program, and as the training director. I additionally volunteered for a year at a Chicago Public School, providing individual psychotherapy to sixth, seventh and eight grade students. I currently am a volunteer therapist with the Marjorie Kovler Center for immigrant refugees.
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My undergraduate degree is from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in fine arts, and I have a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Maryland at College Park. Prior to becoming a psychologist I worked in the field of students affairs and served as the Director of Student Activities at Roosevelt University.