About
I believe every mother and daughter deserves to feel seen, accepted, and safe enough to take up space in this world.
Why I do what I do
If you're parenting a tween, teen, or young adult daughter right now, you already know how much the relationship between you two shapes everything else: her confidence, how she shows up in the world, whether she feels safe to make mistakes and try again.
This is something I've lived on both sides of. I know what it's like to be a daughter looking to my own mother for that sense of safety. And now, raising two daughters of my own, I see every day how much it matters when a girl knows she's fully accepted for who she is, not who anyone expects her to be. This isn't something I learned in a textbook. It's something I've watched shape a person from the inside, including myself.
I've spent my career specializing in exactly this relationship, not parenting in general, not families in the abstract, but the specific, complicated, deeply important bond between mothers and daughters, and what happens when that bond feels strained, distant, or harder than you expected it to be. I've spent years in this exact space with families like yours.
Working together feels warm and honest. I'm present with you, asking real questions, noticing patterns, gently pointing things out you might not see from the inside. I'm always looking at the bigger picture, not just what's happening in a single moment, but how your family's roles, history, and relationships all connect. Most of all, I hold space for whatever you're bringing that day, the hard days and the breakthroughs, because real change happens when you feel safe enough to be honest first.
My journey to becoming a therapist for mothers and daughters
I can't believe I first thought about becoming a family therapist back in 1999, and here I am, doing it, and loving it. Even on heavy days, this work is deeply rewarding. It's been a journey with more than a few turns I didn't plan on.
After completing my undergraduate degree in Family Systems and Human Development at the University of Arizona, I knew I wanted to keep going in this direction. From there, I headed to New Jersey to complete my three-year graduate program in Marriage and Family Therapy at Seton Hall. After graduating, I spent three more years training at the Minuchin Center, deepening my grounding in family systems work.
Being part of a family has shaped me more than almost anything else. I was fortunate to grow up with three siblings and two parents, and looking back, I can see how much that experience influences the way I see people, families, and myself within all of these systems.
Going into graduate school, I didn't know exactly which direction I wanted to take as a therapist, but I knew I wanted to work with families. As I found my footing, I discovered how much I loved working with mothers and daughters, and I saw firsthand how that relationship shapes a girl's self-esteem and how she carries herself into high school and beyond. It's the work I still love most today.
Outside the Therapy Room
My brain loves trying new things. I get a real thrill from starting a new project, picking up a new activity, or diving into something I've never done before. You'll usually find me in the middle of a new workout or activity I just discovered, wandering the aisles at Michaels dreaming up my next idea, or binge-watching a little too much reality TV.
Traveling is a big one for me too, whether it's visiting family or exploring somewhere new, especially small towns in France. I've always been someone with big dreams, and I love that spark of excitement that comes with starting something new.
Guiding families through the seasons of life
Sign up for my newsletter to receive tips, tools & updates to support your tween, teen, or yourself—straight to your inbox. Let’s grow together!
