My Training

I earned my doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York. LIU is well-known for its focus on psychodynamic psychotherapy training, psychological assessment, and research in psychotherapy and personality functioning.

My own research focused on post-traumatic stress disorder and experiences of microaggressions, discrimination, and heterosexism in the lesbian, gay, and bisexual communities. I also conducted research into factors that affect clients with histories of trauma and their engagement in psychotherapy. 

While studying and researching in New York, I trained in a variety of settings, including Bellevue Hospital, Lenox Hill Hospital, and LIU’s student counseling center. For my clinical internship and post-doctoral work, I moved to Philadelphia to work under Penn Medicine at Pennsylvania Hospital, which included long-term and short-term work with patients at Abramson Cancer Center, Hall-Mercer Community Mental Health Clinic, and on the Pennsylvania Hospital inpatient psychiatric units.

My Experience

Now, in addition to my practice, I work part-time for Drexel University College of Medicine at the Center City Clinic for Behavioral Medicine. My work there focuses on treating patients affected by HIV, chronic medical illness, personality disorders, and other long-term psychological impairments. At Drexel, I also provide clinical supervision to pre-doctoral psychology externs and lead seminars for psychology students and psychiatry residents.

Prior to opening my practice, I worked as a supervising psychologist through Penn Medicine and the Abramson Cancer Center. In this position, I was able to develop psychology programming and clinical services for patients and caregivers and to coordinate patient care with oncologists, nurse practitioners, and social workers.

Before becoming a psychologist, I earned a master’s degree in clinical social work at Columbia University.  Although my training was chiefly in psychotherapy, my focus shifted after graduate school to forensic advocacy. I went on to work for the Office of the District Attorney in Brooklyn, where I provided counseling, crisis intervention, and advocacy services to crime victims. While with the Brooklyn DA, I also launched a program targeting LGBTQ and HIV-affected survivors of domestic violence. This program also included training attorneys, police officers, and criminal justice professionals on meeting the needs of LGBTQ crime victims. 

Nowadays, I am eager to continue working and living  in the Philadelphia area. I am also excited to continue learning from the many rich histories and communities here and to expand my knowledge of psychosocial issues affecting clients across the lifespan.