When working with anxiety disorders, I use a combination of CBT, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and mindfulness meditation/relaxation practices to teach my clients how to manage their anxiety. I am a lifelong learner and constantly strive to always provide the best treatment for my clients by finding continuing education opportunities throughout my career to utilize the most effective, research-based treatment modalities for my clients’ presenting issues.

My primary goal is to make counseling sessions as comfortable as possible for my clients by always striving to understand my client’s perspectives and encouraging my clients to open up in a safe, non-judgmental, and welcoming environment. I work collaboratively with my clients to address their concerns through a nonjudgmental, empathetic, and open approach. My goal is to help my clients learn effective ways to manage anxiety, reduce negative or obsession-based thinking, increase self-confidence, and find resilience through challenging, emotional life situations.

I believe that past life experiences often lead to learned patterns in present behavior and relationships. When these learned behaviors are negative or self-defeating, making changes is difficult but my goal is to teach my clients how to identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts, feelings and behaviors, and learn to use their strengths to achieve positive and lasting change.

Areas of Expertise and Experience

My areas of expertise include generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder, OCD, relationship concerns, family issues, and cultural issues. I work with adults and adolescents.

I started my career working for a healthcare company where I worked in long term care facilities, nursing homes, and behavioral health centers and gained extensive experience in working with individuals with cognitive impairment, anxiety, and depression, older adults with dementia, family members experiencing caregiver stress, veterans with PTSD, and individuals with severe mental illness and developmental disabilities. I also worked on research projects which were focused on memory rehabilitation and reducing depression and anxiety.

I then worked in a large private practice in Atlanta specializing in anxiety disorders under the direction of Dr Rebecca Beaton (a nationally recognized anxiety and exposure specialist and Psychologist) where I was intensively trained in using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) to treat a wide spectrum of anxiety disorders. During this time in private practice, I also led an anxiety and stress management group and co-led an African American Women’s group and a Mindfulness group. I have also given professional corporate presentations and done community education and outreach in school and college-based settings on anxiety and stress management.

In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, gardening and finding new, unique plants and vegetables to grow, exploring different restaurants, traveling, going to the theater and watching musicals, and trying my best to live life to the fullest.

It is always an honor to work with my clients and be part of your journey to achieve healing, self-awareness, self-care and coping skills, and personal growth.