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My Story

I am a psychotherapist, researcher, and activist. I am originally from the Midwest. I now live outside Raleigh with my partner, daughter, overgrown garden, and a couple of backyard chickens. 

 

I started my professional life as an anthropologist, but soon realized that career wasn’t for me. My introduction to psychology happened at Princeton University while working as a research assistant. With an incredible team I co-designed a school bullying prevention initiative that we successfully implemented across the state of New Jersey. By far my favorite part of the job was interacting directly with the kids and hearing their stories. While working there, I quickly realized psychology was a perfect fit. 

 

I took coursework at the University of Pennsylvania while employed as a research coordinator at the Aaron T. Beck Psychopathology Research Center (since renamed the Penn Center for the Prevention of Suicide). It was there, supporting people through retelling their stories of attempting suicide, that I found the power of human connection to shine a light on the darkest moments of life. This inspired me to not just study psychology, but to become a therapist and guide people through those moments.

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My PhD is in Clinical-Community Psychology from the University of South Carolina. This unique program emphasized seeing the big picture of wellbeing: how people's mental state is affected by their life experiences, genetics, families, communities, and societal expectations. While completing my degree I trained rigorously in psychotherapy and assessment, working at inpatient substance rehabilitation facilities, medical clinics, and community mental health centers. I completed my predoctoral internship residency at the Durham VA Medical Center with rotations in behavioral medicine, integrated primary care, older adult services, post-deployment adjustment, and general mental health. During my postdoctoral fellowship I worked intensively with trauma cases. Throughout my training I completed supervised practice in interventions for complex trauma, insomnia, pain, chronic illness, anxiety, OCD, and suicide prevention, among others. My clinical specialty is the intersection of trauma, emotional intensity (such as anxiety, anger, and interpersonal problems), and health.

 

The dual doctoral degree also prepared me to support healthcare organizations and community agencies as a community psychologist and implementation scientist. You can see some of my research publications on these topics here. Beyond my clinical practice I am a researcher with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

In both my personal and professional life I feel strongly about addressing inequities, leading with an anti-oppressive stance, and advocating for social justice. I also have a growing professional and personal interest in climate adaptation and resilience and am a member of the Climate Psychology Alliance of North America. 

Education

Ph.D., Clinical - Community Psychology, University of South Carolina (APA-accredited)

M.A., Anthropology, University of Missouri

B.A., Anthropology & Human Biology, Temple University

Credentials & Training

North Carolina Psychology license #6477

National Register of Health Service Psychologists credential #71965

National Provider Certification in CPT for PTSD from the National Center for PTSD

APA-Accredited Psychology Internship, Durham VA Medical Center

More

Affiliation

Research Investigator & Implementation Scientist

Center for Clinical Management Research

Health Services Research & Development

US Department of Veterans Affairs

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