About Me
Professional Shit You Should Know:
I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in the state of Vermont, with a MA from Antioch University New England. My practice specializes in cult recovery, trauma-related diagnoses, professional burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary traumatic stress. As a cult expert, I also offer clinical case consultations for mental health professionals interested in developing therapeutic competency in working with cult survivors and learning more about issues related to undue influence and systemic abuse.
My therapeutic philosophy draws strongly from Jung and Lifton as well as other psychodynamic and existentialist theorists and writers. I am currently an analytic training candidate with the Jungian Psychoanalytic Association in New York.
In addition to my clinical work, I enjoy presenting on a range of topics, including cult recovery, the neurophysiology of trauma and building a trauma-informed practice, components of effective worldview change in extremist ideologies, and wellness and burnout issues in the counseling profession. I’ve been published in the International Journal of Cultic Studies and have been consulted as an expert in cult psychology by media and academics.
Personal Shit You Might Like to Know:
When not subjecting my friends and loved ones to impromptu trauma presentations at parties, I can be found doing the fairly stereotypical Vermont things like hiking, kayaking, cross-country skiing, surfing (ha! Just seeing if you’re paying attention), spending time in nature, and watching the wildlife.
​
I always have several books going at a time and have been writing my own poetry and stories since I was a child. If I see a book in your hand, chances are high I’m going to ask what you’re reading, and I want you to gush about how much you love or hate it. I will always have book recommendations to offer because I love them so much and because I worked as a bookseller before I worked as a therapist.
​
I love a good philosophical debate. I think deeply but hold my opinions loosely. I’m a bit irreverent and love to swear. I show strangers in the grocery store pictures of my cat, who ironically has separation anxiety and will choke herself if I’m not paying enough attention to her. I have yet to find a cat psychologist who specializes in non-erotic-self-asphyxiation.
I missed the memo but am quite certain one went out to all therapists at some point because there seems to be three picture types we are allowed to choose from: the bad selfie, the pensive nature photo, and the professional head shot. Overachiever that I am, I couldn’t decide, so you get all three.
The pensive nature photo—shows that I am deep, compassionate and definitely ready to do the hard work with you.
The bad selfie—shows I'm human. You can be human with me too.
The professional headshot—shows you how professional I'll be (except when I drop an f-bomb in session).
And here's a picture of my cat!
If you’re interested in working with me, hop over and read my treatment section. If that resonates, reach out to me and we can decide whether setting up an initial consult makes sense.