You've already found the courage to begin the process of finding someone to talk to. Now it's time to think about what you're looking for. Therapy is an important investment of your time and money, and it usually means stepping out of your comfort zone. Finding the right therapist can therefore be daunting, but it's probably the most important aspect of a productive and effective therapy experience. Especially if therapy is new to you or if you've had unhelpful experiences in the past, you'll want to sit with someone you can come to trust. As you read about me, I encourage you to reflect on your own needs and preferences to assess whether my experience and style line up for you.
I am a licensed clinical psychologist, in private practice since 2006. I received my doctorate in clinical psychology from Georgia State University, training with some of the most revered clinicians in the field. I completed my internship and post-doctoral training at Emory University, and have experience working, teaching, and supervising in a variety of mental health settings, including hospitals and university counseling centers. My passion, however, is private practice where I can offer my clients the most flexibility and creativity in the way we work together. I offer individual therapy, working primarily with adults. I also offer supervision and consultation services to other mental health trainees and colleagues, and often serve as a consultant or guest for media, television, and podcasts.
I am a registered Telehealth provider through PSYPACT. Please visit https://psypact.site-ym.com/page/psypactmap for a list of states that are included. I am able to see clients residing in these states only.
As a generalist, I am able to treat most concerns people bring to therapy. However, my specific areas of interest and experience include:
My first priority is to ensure that you feel safe, understood, and accepted in my office. I have a personable, down-to-earth style, and encourage humor and creativity in our work. First, you and I will thoughtfully assess your current situation in the context of your unique history, and develop our treatment plan collaboratively. I believe in highlighting areas of strength; those talents and even defenses have gotten you this far and together, we will learn how to maximize your natural resilience while easing the vulnerabilities that have you feeling stuck.
I will provide regular and honest feedback about what I think could be helpful as you experiment with making changes in your life. Periodically, I will check in with you about whether our time together feels useful, and we will revise our course if needed.
Importantly, I aim to understand how dimensions of your identity (e.g., racial, sexual, gender, disability status, etc.) are influenced by systems of oppression, inequality, and other forms of discrimination. Rather than making assumptions about you, I hope to learn from you about your unique lived experience in order to understand how you see yourself, others, and the world. For instance, we might consider the roles of shame, fear, and internalized stigma as we explore your struggle to take risks, challenge the status quo, or live your fullest, most authentic life.
I am classically trained in interpersonal and humanistic psychotherapies, but I also utilize contemporary treatment models including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness-Based Self-Compassion (MBSC), and Internal Family Systems (IFS). These frameworks are non-pathologizing and work effectively for clients "stuck in their heads" and unable to move forward with value-driven, self-compassionate choices. In session, we learn to recognize and invite the protective "Parts" of ourselves that often step in when we feel vulnerable, but sometimes get in the way of greater connection, self-acceptance, and fulfillment. Together we will explore how to get "Self" back in the driver's seat, so that your values are honored and life goals can be reached with optimal emotional resilience.
Finally, I am deeply informed by interpersonal neurobiology, polyvagal theory and the science of attachment and emotion, all of which offer a validating and practical lens for understanding the social and biological mechanisms of mental health and relationships. As trauma and stress live in the body, I'm particularly interested in helping you develop a keen awareness of what your body and your "symptoms" are trying to tell you about how you navigate safety and connection in the world. To that end, I often suggest between-session practices to augment the therapy process and build momentum for change.
I am in the office seeing clients M,T, Th, & F. I am not in the office on Wednesdays or weekends. My first session of the day is at 9:00am and my last one is at 4:00pm, and are scheduled subject to my current availability. Sessions are 45-50 minutes long, and are scheduled on the hour. I see some current clients via Telehealth, if requested, but prefer to see new clients in person at least for the first 1-3 sessions.
If you would like to use your health insurance benefits to help pay for therapy, you must first find out if your plan carries "out-of-network" benefits. After each visit, I provide a statement called a "superbill" which has all the necessary information your insurance company will need in order to reimburse you a portion of my fee. Given that plan benefits vary, I suggest that you call your insurance carrier directly for accurate information about exactly what your plan covers. We can discuss any questions you have about fees, insurance, and payment options during our initial consultation.
Call me or send me an email! I’d be glad to help you decide if I am the right therapist for you.
(404) 313-0464
111 N. McDonough St
Decatur, GA 30030
Please complete the forms below and either email them to me or bring them to your first appointment.
Feel free to be in touch if you have any questions!
Thrive Center for Psychological Health, LLC is not a partnership or joint venture. It is an unincorporated association of practitioners, each of whom is an independently incorporated psychologist.Communication with a Thrive therapist does not by itself create a client-therapist relationship or constitute the provision or receipt of psychological services. Any communication with a Thrive therapist should be considered informational only, and should not be relied or acted upon until a formal client-therapist relationship is established pursuant to a written agreement.