Who I Am

I provide neurodiversity-affirming psychological assessments and therapy for patients of all ages and backgrounds, and I particularly love working with autistic and/or ADHD individuals.  My services are grounded in the understanding that neurodivergence is a natural human variation, not a deficit or a pathology to be fixed.   

My approach centers you as the expert on your own experience.  Whether you're seeking an evaluation, ongoing therapy, or both, I'm here to help you understand how your unique brain works, identify your strengths, and develop strategies that actually work for you.

Evaluations:

My method is to keep an open eye to observing the bigger picture, incorporating all aspects of my clients, and using the evaluation results to break down complex problems and provide practical solutions.

My perspective is strongly informed by the lived experiences of my clients.  Because of that, my evaluations are a collaborative process where you're the expert on your own experiences.  My approach focuses on exploring:

• You and your life experiences

• How you naturally think and process things

• Your genuine strengths

• Where you might benefit from support

Some people find a diagnosis incredibly validating and helpful.  Others don't need or want one.  I'm here to help you understand yourself better, figure out what makes sense for you, and get access to accommodations or resources if you want them – not to force a label on you.  Whether you're seeking a clearer understanding of how you navigate the world, validation of your experiences, or simply a formal diagnosis for accommodations, the evaluation centers on your goals and what would be most helpful for you.

Therapy:

Therapy looks different for everyone.  I use flexible, individualized approaches because what works for one person may not work for another.  We'll figure out together what actually works for you and helps you achieve your goals.  We can work together on things like: 

• Building self-understanding about struggles that may not yet make sense

• Dealing with feeling overwhelmed by the world around you

• Learning to manage stress and avoid burnout

• Healing from being told you're "weird" or "too sensitive" your whole life

• Understanding which parts of you are real and which parts you've been hiding to fit in

• Figuring out how to exist in a world that wasn't designed for brains like yours

No matter what area or areas we identify as our focus, therapy should be a space where you can just be yourself.   Need to move around while we talk?  That's fine.  Want to fidget with something?  Go ahead.  Process things in a non-linear way or need extra time to think?  That works too.  

Whether you come for evaluation, therapy, or both, my work is built on the belief that you deserve support that honors who you actually are. None of my clients are told to change, hide, or fix themselves.  Here, we start from a different place: understanding yourself, accepting yourself, and building a life that works for your brain.  Whether you're just starting to wonder if you're neurodivergent, or you've known for years and need support, I'm here to help you on your terms.

For those who want to know more about my background: I received my doctoral degree from the American School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University in Arlington, Virginia.  I completed my predoctoral internship at Spring Grove Hospital Center in Catonsville, Maryland. After gaining one year of postdoctoral experience at Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center, I returned to Spring Grove Hospital Center, where I provided psychological assessments and therapeutic services on their adolescent unit.  While at Spring Grove Hospital Center, I also served as the Assistant Director of Internship Training, supervising psychology interns completing their doctoral degrees.  I also have experience as an adjunct professor, teaching doctoral level courses on psychological assessment at multiple institutions.  Since 2019, I have focused on providing evaluations and therapy for individuals in the community.