Collaborative Guide for Your Journey of Healing and Growth
Healing and growth occur within relationships that feel safe, respectful, compassionate, and connected. My practice is grounded in the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to improve their mental wellbeing and lead a fulfilling life. I am committed to providing compassionate and personalized care to support your therapy goals. I am a Licensed Master Social Worker with diverse professional expertise, educational training, and life experience. I have 3+ years of clinical experience and am supervised by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
My specialties include parenting, relationships, and life transitions. Our work together is guided by interpersonal neurobiology, a framework that explores how our brains, bodies, and relationships influence and are influenced by our life experiences. By understanding these interactions and increasing awareness with focused attention, we can increase integration and move toward healing and growth. In therapy I use evidence-based practices to reduce distress, increase emotion regulation, and strengthen relationships. I believe every person has inherent strengths and capacity for growth even when life experiences, stress, trauma, or developmental transitions make that difficult to see.
I am uniquely credentialed with a Master of Social Work from The University of Georgia and Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. I am a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the Global Association for Interpersonal Neurobiology Studies (GAINS). I am extensively trained and experienced in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), have completed training as a Certified Attachment and Personality Patterns Specialist (CAPPS), completed Levels 1 and 2 of Gottman Method Couples Therapy, and have over 20 years of training and experience with skills of effective parenting. My therapeutic approach is trauma-informed, and I prioritize creating an environment where you feel safe and can explore your story with openness and curiosity to work toward your identified goals with confidence. Each session is designed to meet your unique needs, whether you are striving to be the best parent you can be, seeking connection in relationships, managing grief, struggling with identity, coping with unexpected stressors, or looking for a gentle guide to support personal growth through life transitions.
I serve adults and adolescents, and offer individual, couple, and family therapy sessions in Peachtree Corners and Milton. I also offer parenting groups in Peachtree Corners. After an initial in-person assessment, clients may switch to telehealth sessions if on-line is preferred.
My Specialties
Parenting
As a parent I discovered that my "do what I ask when I ask" style of parenting was leading to more conflict than connection. So I started to study and learn about ways to parent that lead to both effective behavior (for parent and child) and respectful connected relationships. The skills I learned reduced the conflict in my home, made parenting more enjoyable, and created the opportunity to develop long-lasting close relationships with each of my children. Using these new skills was transformational for my family and I am passionate about sharing the insights, skills, and concepts I learned with others who are seeking to parent their children in the most effective, connective way possible.
Relationships
Healthy relationships make difficult situations easier to navigate, help us be more effective in our jobs and volunteer commitments, and create joyful experiences throughout our days. From co-worker to neighbor to family, respecting what makes each of us unique and choosing to connect with kindness and compassion is a proven path to wellbeing and a sense of belonging. As a child, parent, and marriage partner I practice the healthy relationship skills that I teach as an educator, pastor, and therapist. And clients benefit from both the science of evidence-based practice and the wisdom of lived experience. Strong connected relationships are worth the investment of time and intention.
Life Transitions
Life is full of transitions: becoming an adult; getting a job; leaving your childhood home; getting married; having a child followed by toddlerhood, school, and adolescence; empty nesting; and retirement. Life is also full of unexpected transitions: career changes; health/mental health diagnoses; grief events; caregiving; moves. Any life transition can bring with it a sense of overwhelm or difficult emotions, and it can be difficult to integrate the significance of the transition into existing plans, dreams, and sense of identity. Having a safe place to name the emotions and fears while connecting to values and purpose with a collaborative guide can turn challenges into opportunities for growth.
Coaching
As a teacher I learned that my day was more enjoyable and I got to spend more time teaching when I was able to effectively manage classroom behaviors. A child's behavior reflects an attempt to get a need met and makes sense relative to the situation along with the child's accompanying emotions, thoughts, and sensations. Teachers who can avoid problematic situations and can effectively guide a child to express and regulate their emotions create classrooms where learning is the priority. I provide coaching services for those who are responsible for groups of children and adolescents. Understanding human behavior can also help parents and caregivers bring their best to difficult situations.
Education and Workshops
I believe that we are all doing the best we can in any given moment. I also believe that by learning about human development, behavior (our own and others), and a wellness-based approach to mental health, we can all do better and enjoy relationships that are more effective and connected. I am committed to sharing what I've learned over the years by speaking to groups and offering workshops to strengthen relational skills and promote good mental health. Topics include transition to parenthood, parenting children ages 0-6, parenting adolescents, preparing for marriage, making marriage work, healthy aging, caregiving, mindfulness, and contemplative practices.
Mindfulness and Contemplative Practices
Science supports the idea that “where attention goes, neural firing flows, and neural connection grows.” Mindfulness practices that include focused attention, open awareness, and kind intention have been shown to reduce stress, improve physical health, slow aging, and integrate the structure and function of the brain (Mind Your Brain, Inc. 2026). Mindfulness is also a core component of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). I can bring mindfulness practices into therapeutic work to help clients reach stated goals. I can also help clients develop mindfulness or other contemplative practices as part of a journey toward greater awareness, wisdom, and understanding.