Therapists in Burlington, VT

As a National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach, I offer a client-centered approach to vitalize clients as they embark upon and achieve sustainable health and wellness lifestyle changes. Clients can be supported in the areas of nutrition/weight management, physical activity, sleep, stress management, and nicotine and alcohol use, particularly “gray area” drinking.

Life can present many unexpected challenges, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. These challenges impact our emotional wellbeing and our relationships. As your therapist, I will offer you the opportunity to reflect upon your life in a safe, respectful, and confidential environment. My area of expertise is Whole Mind-Body Psychotherapy which focuses on the interplay between physical health (body) and mental health (mind). We will identify how your life experiences are stored in your brain-body and influence your emotions, thinking, and behaviors. You will develop new pathways to promote a sense of well-being and inner strength.

The goal of my practice is to help reduce suffering and to increase capacity for joy, flexibility, and life fulfillment. I individualize my approach to your needs using a mix of different psychological approaches, including cognitive-behavioral, narrative and psychodynamic. I am a Vermont licensed doctoral-level psychologist who trained in health psychology at the Minneapolis VA Hospital, and engaged in postdoctoral study in behavioral medicine at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. I worked for many years at the Hazelden Center, a nationally-recognized leader in addiction treatment, and gained additional experience working with adolescents as a high school counselor and wellness teacher.

My goal as your therapist is to provide a safe, comfortable space to those in need of psychotherapy in a non-judgmental, professional, confidential atmosphere. I specialize in treating trauma, grief and loss, P.T.S.D., Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, anxiety disorders and issues pertaining to women and girls.

As humans I believe we are always working towards healing and positive self-growth. I create a collaborative, compassionate and non-judgmental space with my clients to help them discover why they are struggling and work towards their continued growth. I enjoy working with women-identifying people and queer folks that are 18+. I specialize in working with folks going through the coming out process, going through big life transitions, figuring out identity, experiencing relational issues, wanting to work on increasing self-compassion- especially related to body image, or better managing anxiety and healing from difficult experiences.

I'm interested in helping clients gain a better understanding of their relationship with themselves and to others within their lives. I believe human connection is essential for people as well as living with honesty and balance. Through compassionate humor and straightforward dialogue, I strive to help clients review the thought process involved in developing harmony between their behaviors, values and feelings and their identified inner needs, goals and sense of self. I'm especially interested in helping clients to establish a harmony of communication between the three parts of the mind: the Brain, the Heart and the Gut.

I believe that times of transition or crisis, though frequently painful and disorienting, offer us powerful opportunities for adaptation and healing. I believe we have a fundamental need for connection, for being truly heard and for feeling effective and valued. Whether you are 35 or 85 or somewhere in between, I offer you a place to safely explore your needs and challenges. My clients describe my style as honest, engaged, compassionate and respectful. From my work in urban and rural settings, within a variety of socio-economic communities, I have developed a profound belief in everyone's capacity for positive change.

I believe that life is a process of becoming. Who we are today is not who we were yesterday nor who we will be tomorrow. Sometimes on our journey we feel unsure of ourselves or our destination which is where the counseling process can be helpful. Through our work together, we can explore who you are and what you want, as well as identify and change the mental roadblocks that are interfering with your happiness and success. With patience and insight, you will begin to feel more wholly connected to yourself which will bring you peace and lasting change.