Frequently Asked Questions

My practice specializes in trauma therapy for women, particularly those healing from complex trauma, childhood wounds, anxiety, emotional neglect, sensory sensitivity, and nervous system dysregulation.

I also welcome many nonbinary and trans clients whose experiences and therapeutic goals align with this work. Men and adolescents are considered on a case-by-case basis when the clinical fit is especially strong.

Clients often seek support for:

• Complex PTSD and developmental trauma

• Childhood trauma and emotional neglect

• Anxiety, panic, and chronic stress

• Attachment wounds and relationship patterns

• Dissociation, shutdown, or feeling emotionally numb

• Sensory overwhelm, masking, and difficulty identifying feelings

• Perfectionism, people-pleasing, and burnout

• Grief, loss, and major life transitions

Absolutely. Many people seek therapy because they struggle with anxiety, perfectionism, people-pleasing, chronic stress, relationship difficulties, or feeling disconnected from themselves without identifying as having PTSD. Trauma can influence the nervous system in many different ways, and therapy can support healing whether or not you have a formal trauma diagnosis.

Many of the people I work with are thoughtful, capable, and deeply attuned to others, yet internally feel anxious, overwhelmed, disconnected, or like they are working much harder than others just to get through everyday life.

You may struggle to identify your own feelings, needs, or internal cues, even while spending a great deal of energy caring for others, adapting, coping, or holding everything together.

If traditional talk therapy has helped you understand your experiences but not fully change how you feel inside, this approach may be a good fit.

Many of the people I work with have already spent years in therapy and gained valuable insight into their experiences. My approach builds on that understanding by integrating psychotherapy with somatic (body-based) and expressive arts approaches that engage the nervous system alongside the thinking mind. Rather than focusing solely on understanding why patterns developed, we also work toward helping your body experience greater safety, flexibility, and connection.

While understanding your story is an important part of healing, trauma often affects the nervous system in ways that insight alone cannot fully resolve. My approach integrates traditional psychotherapy with somatic (body-based) and expressive arts approaches to help clients reconnect with themselves, develop greater nervous system regulation, and create lasting change. Many of my clients come to therapy after feeling that previous talk therapy helped them understand their experiences but left them feeling stuck.

Somatic therapy may be a good fit if you feel disconnected from your body, experience chronic anxiety or tension, become overwhelmed easily, or have found that insight alone hasn't led to the changes you're hoping for. Rather than focusing only on thoughts, somatic therapy gently incorporates awareness of the nervous system, body sensations, movement, and other body-based approaches to support healing.

Yes. Many people who experienced childhood trauma or emotional neglect do not have clear memories of everything they lived through. Therapy does not require remembering every detail. Instead, we focus on how your experiences may still be affecting you today and work toward helping your nervous system feel safer, more connected, and more resilient.

No. Therapy moves at a pace that feels safe and manageable for you. While some clients find it helpful to talk about past experiences, others begin by focusing on present-day symptoms such as anxiety, overwhelm, disconnection, or difficulty trusting themselves. We work together to build safety, regulation, and resources before approaching difficult material, and you are never expected to share more than you feel ready to.

The first session is an opportunity for us to get to know one another and begin understanding what brings you to therapy. Together we'll explore what's feeling most important, what you're hoping will be different, and any questions you have about the process.

There is no "right" way for a first session to unfold. Some people naturally share much of their story, while others prefer to begin with what's happening in the present. Depending on your needs and preferences, we may spend time talking, exploring body-based awareness, using simple creative exercises, or discussing how trauma and the nervous system work. I'll offer choices throughout the session, and we'll move at a pace that feels supportive and manageable.

Finding the right therapist often takes more than one session. I encourage clients to give themselves the first few sessions to experience the work before deciding whether it feels like a good fit.

Therapy is tailored to each person's goals, needs, and pace.

Many clients begin with weekly sessions to build safety, consistency, and momentum. During periods of increased stress, trauma activation, or major life transitions, some clients choose to meet twice weekly for additional support.

Others work with me short-term, periodically, or in an adjunctive role alongside an existing therapist.

As therapy progresses, we'll regularly revisit what feels most supportive and adjust the frequency together.

Yes.

Some clients work with me for ongoing individual psychotherapy, while others seek adjunctive somatic or expressive therapy alongside an existing therapist, psychiatrist, or other provider.

This can be especially helpful when treatment goals involve trauma processing, nervous system regulation, sensory awareness, or non-verbal work that extends beyond insight alone.

Somatic therapy is a body-based approach to psychotherapy that recognizes how trauma and stress are held not only in the mind, but also in the nervous system and body.

Rather than focusing on thoughts alone, we may also pay attention to sensations, movement, posture, breath, and present-moment experience. This can help support nervous system regulation, deepen self-awareness, and access patterns that may exist beyond words or conscious memory.

I am trained in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, a trauma-informed approach developed by Pat Ogden.

No. My practice does not involve therapeutic touch.

Somatic therapy in this setting is a body-based form of psychotherapy that may include mindful awareness of sensations, posture, movement, breath, imagery, and present-moment experience, all within clear professional boundaries.

No artistic experience is needed.

Expressive arts therapy is a creative, sensory-based approach to psychotherapy that uses art materials and the creative process to explore emotions, memories, and experiences that can be difficult to access through words alone.

Different art materials offer different ways of communicating. The feel of clay, the movement of paint, the structure of collage, or the flow of drawing can help express emotions, experiences, and parts of ourselves that may not yet have words.

The focus is not on artistic skill or creating a finished product, but on curiosity, self-discovery, and healing.

Yes. My work is informed by current research in trauma, attachment, neuroscience, and nervous system regulation, as well as specialized training in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and expressive arts therapy. Treatment is individualized to each client's needs and guided by both clinical evidence and your unique goals.

Yes. I work primarily through secure telehealth with clients located in New York and Maryland. Many clients are surprised by how deep, connected, and effective somatic and trauma-focused therapy can be online. As a clinician, I find it can support stabilization and deeper work by allowing clients to remain in a familiar environment where they can rest and continue to regulate following each session instead of disrupting their internal process with a commute.

In-person and nature-based sessions are also available in Maryland when clinically appropriate.

Yes. For clients in Maryland, I offer nature-based and walk-and-talk therapy sessions in addition to traditional office appointments.

Sessions take place in thoughtfully selected natural settings, including the C&O Canal National Historical Park and the Great Falls area, where walking, nature, and the therapeutic process can come together in a calm, grounding environment.

For some clients, moving side by side outdoors can make it easier to slow down, connect with the body, and explore difficult experiences. Nature-based sessions may also include periods of sitting, reflection, mindfulness, or creative work, depending on your goals and preferences. Research suggests that combining therapy with gentle movement and natural environments can support emotional well-being and reduce stress.

Nature-based therapy is available by mutual agreement when it is clinically appropriate and a good fit for your treatment goals.

I am licensed to provide psychotherapy to clients located in:

• New York

• Maryland

I offer telehealth therapy for clients throughout New York and Maryland, allowing you to access therapy from the comfort and privacy of your own space.

For clients in Maryland, I also offer in-person sessions in Bethesda in a warm, welcoming office designed to support body-based and creative therapeutic work.

I am a private-pay practice and do not participate directly with insurance plans.

My current fees are:

• $250 for a 60-minute session

• $375 for a 90-minute session

Many clients choose private-pay therapy because it offers greater privacy, flexibility, and treatment tailored to their individual needs rather than insurance requirements.

If you have out-of-network benefits, I can provide a superbill for possible reimbursement. Please note that telehealth sessions for New York clients are generally not eligible for insurance reimbursement because I do not maintain a physical office in New York.