I’m a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and certified alcohol and drug counselor (CADC) who earned my master’s degree in social work from Loyola University Chicago. My practice focuses on working with individuals 18 years and older. I’m LGBTQIA+ affirming and particularly tuned into the challenges and successes possible in our communities.

In addition to extensive training in trauma and addiction, I have personal and professional experience in chronic illness, family of origin and chosen family, grief and loss, other major life transitions, academia and creativity (writing, music, art, crafts).

I really like throwing capitalism under the bus—or any other system of oppression. Let me name some big threes: race, class, gender. Fear of judgment, shame and stigma, rigid thinking.

In our first meeting together, or maybe our 31st, you might test the waters with me about alcohol or weed or other drugs (or sleep or doom scrolling or…). You might say something like, “I’m not sure about how I feel about it. My doctor/last therapist/spouse said I have a problem.”

You might be afraid to tell me how much or how often you do, or think about doing, any of those things, because maybe you told that doctor/last therapist/spouse and they shamed you and labeled you and made you shut down.

Shame and labels are not in my desk drawer. Saying something that makes you shut down is completely counterproductive to what I want for you to get out of therapy: a little more clarity on how to live a life filled with meaning and purpose, on your terms.

Even with so many ways to connect to each other, our modern world can feel isolating. I believe that sometimes we need to talk to another human, and sometimes that human is a therapist. Feel free to contact me if I sound like a therapist you’d like to talk to.