"I consider it an honor to journey with my clients as they share their unique stories. As they do the hard work of reflecting on their stories, I help them reorient their understanding and beliefs surrounding their life circumstance, leading them to a restored life of goodness and beauty."
Hello and welcome! I am glad you are here. I completed my Master of Arts in Counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. Desiring a more comprehensive and integrated clinical training, I earned my Certificate for Advanced Professional Counseling from Biblical Theological Seminary. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Pennsylvania. I have been a trauma-informed psychotherapist since 2007. I also earned and completed my certificate as an Internal Family Systems (IFS) Level 1 therapist through the IFS Institute. I worked in New York, San Francisco and Philadelphia, including working as a therapist on staff at Tim Keller's Redeemer Presbyterian Church's counseling center, Redeemer Counseling Services. I helped create and manage 2200 Arch Counseling Services in Philadelphia from 2013-2017. I also worked as an adjunct professor at Missio Seminary.
After working in various church-based counseling centers, I decided to create my private practice, RE:STORY Counseling Service in August 2017. Prior to becoming a therapist, I worked as an Advertising Executive in New York and San Francisco for almost two decades. (Yes, the Madmen series was on point if you were a fan of the show).
My 30+ years of combined working experience in the corporate world and counseling, in addition to pursuing advanced, intensive education and training, has equipped me with a unique and fresh perspective that is compassionate, skilled, and yet practical. My understanding of human suffering is nuanced and centered on what it means to be a spiritual being living in a physical body. My counseling approach is holistic. I invite my clients to discover their own ability to face life's challenges and experience deep transformation through their own spiritual journey.
As an immigrant and a transplant to Philadelphia, I am culturally sensitive and compassionate to those that feel racially or socially marginalized and especially those that experience disenfranchised grief. I enjoy spending time with my family, hiking with my therapy dog, laughter and thought-provoking conversations with my circle of trusted friends. I am a city dweller and love everything about the city. I am a woman of many interests - food, wine, the arts, travel, independent movies, poetry, yoga, the Enneagram, mindfulness meditation, and other contemplative practices. I am a follower of Christ who believes that we are all created equal regardless of race, gender or creed. I believe that change happens even in our aging years. It begins with wanting to change and surrendering what we hold so tightly as we become curious and compassionate to all our parts.
I offer professional counseling that brings awareness, meaning, and connection to the person, giving them the experience of being seen and known.
My unique approach is concerned with the healing and re-telling of a person's story -- hence the name RE:STORY. I focus on the health and whole of the human spirit in its entire relational context. My aim is not to simply change behavior but to dismantle the dysfunctional structures that are often rooted in familial, cultural, moral, and social beliefs -- beliefs that often create confusion and a false sense of self. I believe that transformation comes from within. Knowing and understanding our internal system and all its parts’ intention will enable you to grow beyond mere survival into a place of thriving.
I believe that change is possible when one honors the intention of the various aspects within us. One can be transformed by the Self-leadership or Christ-consciousness Self. While I cannot guarantee that I can entirely eliminate suffering, I strive to change how you respond and relate to suffering. You and I will explore the complex and hidden desires, motivations and narratives that hinder you from knowing your true self. For some, this will involve re-aligning and re-discovering oneself through parts work. The aim is to alleviate symptoms and reorient your understanding and beliefs on how you face your life circumstances, and seek to experience a deep spiritual transformation with in you.
My theoretical and clinical orientation is psychodynamic and person-centered. I will meet you where you are regardless of your circumstance. I integrate Internal Family Systems (IFS) with evidence-based treatment modalities to experience a deeper and more transformative change. I am grateful to have gleaned from the wisdom of Dr. Chuck DeGroat, Dr. Allison Cook and Dr. Curt Thompson. My area of interest include but are not limited to:
Anxiety
Attachment Disorder
Adjustment Disorder
Cultural Diversity and Inclusion
Codependency
Depression
Elder care and Aging
Emotion Regulation
Grief and Loss
Lifestage transition
Marriage, Divorce and Re-marriage counseling
Mindfulness
Pre-marital Counseling
Singleness and Dating
Sexual orientation
Sexual abuse and Trauma recovery
Shame and Guilt