Licensed Professional Counselor | Early Childhood Education and Exceptional Needs | Infant Mental Health

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I am a licensed professional counselor specializing in infant mental health, trauma, and developmental disabilities. I use my rich life experience, combined with an extensive background working with children, to provide my clients and their families with hope and success. My goal is to connect children and caregivers in authentic ways that support families dealing with trauma, separation issues, substance abuse issues, and other parenting concerns so that caregivers can better understand and support their children. My goals are for children to connect with their caregivers and for caregivers to better understand their children. 

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I am passionate about working with children and their caregivers using Child Parent-Psychotherapy (CPP) as an intervention model for children ages 0–6. This approach helps children and caregivers to process past traumas or disruptions in attachment. I also use other evidenced-based modalities, such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT), to treat children with trauma. These modalities support my work in treating children and families dealing with issues related to depression, anxiety, ADHD, sensory processing disorders, attachment-related disorders, adjustment disorders, behavior problems, and identity issues.  

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In addition to the above, I also maintain my Early Childhood Special Education License, which allows me to combine child development and my clinical work. I specialize in working with children with autism spectrum disorder, Downs Syndrome, emotional behavioral disorder, communication delays, global delays, and other genetic disorders.

 

I have always been drawn to supporting caregivers in connecting with their newborns. I use Newborn Behavioral Observation (NBO), which is a clinical relationship-building tool designed for professionals to help parents understand their baby’s language.  I believe that if babies connect with caregivers early, they will have stronger and more positive mental health.

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Many people talk about trauma-informed care these days. Through my work with children I have come to realize that this work is much more complex. As a provider I must go beyond simply being informed and provide care that is trauma intelligent. I want to use my trauma intelligence to support babies and children with trauma so they can heal reduce their risks for their future.