Therapeutic Philosophy
“What I do is me: for that I came.”
Gerard Manley Hopkins
Being a psychotherapist at this time in my life is a lively (and likely) culmination of years of education, professional experience, and living life. Please see below for more details.
Who Am I?
I have a Masters and Ph. D in Social Work from Catholic University. I worked as a therapist, supervisor, and manager for Montgomery and Arlington Counties for nearly 30 years, in many different programs with a wide range of clients (children, adolescents and their families, adults, and couples) with issues including anxiety and depressive disorders, substance abuse, domestic violence, PTSD, grief and loss, suicide, marital issues, family conflict, developmental issues, and spiritual crises. I have been trained in Structural and Strategic Family Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, an offshoot of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
What Is My Therapeutic Philosophy?
I believe therapy is a rich opportunity for clients to receive guidance, direction, and support in managing the psychological, emotional, and relational challenges in their lives. It requires a knowledgeable and capable therapist to assist an open and trusting client to move forward and make the necessary changes to improve well-being and the quality of a person’s life.
Forgiveness, one of the qualities often found in meaningful therapy, was one that I encountered while I was a graduate student. My doctoral work was a study of local child welfare workers, examining the variables of burnout, coping, and spirituality. One factor found to be statistically significant in that work was the quality of “forgiveness”. This finding translated into “those workers who were able to give and receive forgiveness, were less likely to burn out”. This significant finding has informed my work as a therapist, especially with clients who have experienced trauma, those suffering with life-threatening illness, and those who have lost loved ones to death and suicide.
I truly enjoy my work with clients and find that it is a learning journey for both of us. I believe that therapy can help heal a person and that a therapeutic relationship can be a powerful force for change and growth, especially when someone is experiencing a developmental and or life crisis in their lives.
What Can You Expect From Me?
- An accumulated wisdom of years of education, experience, training, and life experience
- A mindful, non-judgmental presence
- A deep and generous listener
- An offering of hope
- A reflection of one’s better/best self
- A lively sense of humor
- A willingness and ability to hold one accountable
- A great sense of humility, compassion, and respect
To contact me, you can send email, or call me at
301-428-3557.
Thank you.
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