Symptoms aren’t problems to just be eliminated – they hold hidden messages to be discovered and understood.

• Depth-oriented psychotherapy is different than other approaches because the focus is on understanding and transforming the unconscious processes at the root of emotional difficulties and mental health problems.

I offer an empathic space to explore, understand, and make meaning of your life experiences in ways that can transform symptoms, untangle problematic patterns, and open up new possibilities for healing, growth, and change.

I am currently accepting new patients and couples in my private practice for online teletherapy and in-person sessions in my Northampton and Great Barrington, Massachusetts offices.

I provide individual psychotherapy to treat a full range of emotional and psychological difficulties and diagnoses, including depression and other mood disorders, anxiety, trauma, grief and loss, personality disorders, relationship issues, life transitions (including those related to aging, the transition to adulthood, job loss, divorce, as well as those related to gender and sexual identity transitions), experiences of past or current abuse, substance use problems, and difficulties arising from experiences of racism, sexism, heterosexism, transphobia, and other forms of cultural oppression. Research shows psychodynamic psychotherapy tends to produce better long term outcomes than other forms of therapy.

I offer couples therapy with an emphasis on supporting partners and spouses in understanding sources of conflict, distance, or misunderstanding so that these can be worked through, with a particular emphasis on repetitive patterns that interfere with the functioning and well-being of the partnership. I also help couples work through difficulties with physical intimacy, change and loss, infidelity, as well as in coming to terms with the end of a relationship or a decision to part ways. 

Psychodynamic psychotherapy is a type of therapy based around many of the fundamental principles and theories of psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis is the oldest and most developed form of therapy and is often referred to as “depth psychology.” Begun by Sigmund Freud in the 1890’s, psychoanalysis has been enriched by research and scholarship over the last 135 years. It formed the foundation for all other types of therapy that are practiced.

Psychoanalysis is centered around understanding and modifying the unconscious processes at the root of emotional difficulties and mental illness. It is usually unconscious aspects of ourselves and our experiences which get in the way of our happiness and form the basis for our struggles. Contemporary psychoanalysis is somewhat distinct from psychodynamic psychotherapy which is a broader and more flexible approach to therapy. Both treat a wide range of issues. Psychodynamic psychotherapy is typically less intensive than psychoanalysis, though it is still based on psychoanalytic theories and principles. I offer both psychoanalysis which involves meeting multiple times per week, as well as psychodynamic psychotherapy meeting one or more times a week.

My specialty is in treating complex mental health problems and emotional difficulties which are considered “treatment resistant.” This includes treating individuals with multiple diagnoses and “comorbid” conditions, such as when someone is struggling with experiences of trauma or substance abuse in addition to having mood, anxiety, or a personality disorder as well.  Though my general treatment approach is oriented toward intensive psychodynamic therapy and psychoanalysis, I have experience and familiarity with using other approaches as well, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Internal Family Systems (IFS), so we can find a way of working together that best meets your needs. My approach to couple’s therapy is based on training informed by family systems theory and the Gottman approach.

I have been providing psychotherapy since 2012. I am a Licensed Psychologist in Massachusetts (Lic. 11166), Connecticut (Lic. 4256), Virginia (Lic. 0810007876), and the State of New York (Lic. 023234). I received my Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University at Albany, SUNY. I completed an APA-accredited internship in Clinical Psychology at the Albany Psychology Internship Consortium, and four years of postdoctoral training in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy at the world renowned Austen Riggs Center in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. You can learn more about psychodynamic psychotherapy and the Austen Riggs Center here. I have received Board Certification in Psychoanalysis and in Psychoanalytic and Psychodynamic Psychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP).

I have several offerings you should be aware of in deciding what might best meet your needs:

Individual Psychotherapy Consultation: I offer a 90-minute consultation session for a fee of $400 during which time we will discuss your history and what you are struggling with and I will provide you with a psychodynamic conceptualization of the root of your struggles and what obstacles you might need to work through in order to address what is troubling you, including what might be impeding you from making changes you are trying to implement in your life. This is a good option for people who are interested in therapy but are unsure of committing to it and want to have an opportunity to consider what it might offer them, or who have not yet identified a therapist but are in the process of doing so and would like some help thinking about how to approach finding a good therapist who can help them address their struggles. This is also the best first step if you are interested in working in therapy with me, as it forms the foundation of our work and serves as your initial intake session. It is also helpful for people who have an established relationship with a therapist who either are seeking additional information to inform their current work in therapy, or who feel stuck and need something to help them shift into a more productive psychotherapy. 

Couples Therapy Consultation: I offer a 90-minute consultation session for couples for a fee of $500 during which time we will discuss your communication and attachment styles, individual and family histories, and what you are each struggling with in the relationship, and I will provide you with a psychodynamic conceptualization of the underlying obstacles you need to work through as a couple in order to improve the relationship. This is the first step if you are interested in beginning ongoing couples therapy.

Comprehensive Intensive Psychological Assessment (CIPA): I offer a comprehensive intensive psychological assessment consisting of two, 90-minute meetings during which I take a full psychosocial history and provide you with a comprehensive formulation of your struggles, integrating your history and present life experiences and culminating in a narrative that explains how your struggles are interwoven throughout your individual and interpersonal life experiences, shedding light on areas for further growth and understanding and highlighting aspects of your life that are unresolved or unintegrated that may be impeding your healing or movement forward. These areas for growth are defined in the context of your life in ways that you can understand how to address by leaning on your own unique strengths. This narrative is shared with you in the form of a written document which we review in a final 50-minute meeting. This document can be shared with future or current providers to illuminate particular conflicts you face in your life and how they might be worked through. This is a more extensive and thorough evaluation than the psychological consultation described above, but serves very similar purposes. If you should be interested in pursing psychotherapy with me following engagement in a CIPA and we decide to work together, you will receive a discount on your first subsequent psychotherapy session. The fee for a CIPA is $2500.

Psychological Testing: I offer psychological testing for the purpose of assessing a person’s cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning to provide an accurate diagnosis, guide treatment decisions, and understand individual strengths and challenges. This testing can be used for addressing different kinds of questions, such as for confirming or differentiating between diagnoses, reporting to an agency regarding a person’s psychological functioning or status, or for informing present treatment. I also offer testing for the purpose of vocational counseling. Testing can be added to any of the above offerings. The cost of testing varies depending on the type and extent of testing being sought. Please note that I do not offer neuropsychological or forensic testing, nor do I provide testing for high-stakes civil litigation purposes (such as child custody), or testing with children under the age of 6.

Session Rates: If after your consultation or assessment you should choose to begin individual therapy with me, my session rate is $275 per 50-minute session. If you decide to pursue couples therapy after our initial consultation meeting, I charge $500 per 90-minute session, or $350 per 50-minute session.

*Note that I do not currently accept insurance directly. However, many insurance companies will reimburse a significant percentage of out-of-network therapy fees (often as much as 80%) and some will cover psychological testing, particularly when requested by another medical professional and determined to be medically necessary. Please contact your insurance provider to find out what coverage they offer if you submit your therapy bill to them for out-of-network reimbursement. I strongly recommend that you do this before we meet to avoid any surprises. Be sure to ask about exactly how much you will be paying each month to see me at the frequency you are planning.

Clinical Supervision: I offer clinical supervision for therapists in active practice or in training. The fee is $200 per supervision session. Trainees should feel free to discuss whether a discount might be available.