Eating Disorders
I I specialize in working with individuals struggling with disordered eating, body image concerns, and eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and other specified feeding and eating disorders (OSFED). As a member of the Eating Disorder Task Force of Indiana (EDTFI) and Indiana University’s Coalition for Overcoming Problematic Eating/Exercise (COPE) team, I am committed to staying at the forefront of evidence-based practices in this field.
I use an integrative, multidisciplinary approach to treatment, drawing on various modalities to meet the unique needs of each client. These include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Ego State Therapy, and Polyvagal Theory techniques. Because eating disorders often involve psychological, medical, and nutritional components, I work collaboratively with a network of trusted professionals, including primary care physicians, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and registered dietitians. Addressing the medical and dietary aspects of eating disorders is a critical part of the recovery process, alongside the psychological work we do together.
Lived Experience and Passion for Helping Others: My work is deeply informed by my own lived experience with an eating disorder. I understand firsthand the profound impact these struggles can have—not only on the individual but also on their family and loved ones. This personal insight fuels my passion for helping clients navigate what can often feel like an overwhelming and isolating journey. I am here to provide support, guidance, and a compassionate space where recovery feels possible.
I approach therapy with the belief that it’s about reclaiming your authentic self and challenging the negative, often paralyzing, thoughts and behaviors tied to the eating disorder. I aim to empower clients to face these challenges with courage and resilience. For some, this journey may include additional support through medical and dietary referrals or, when symptoms are severe, discussing higher levels of care to ensure safety and effective treatment.
Hope and Recovery: The path to recovery is not easy, but it is possible to recover. I am honored to walk alongside my clients as they navigate this journey, helping them rediscover hope and reclaim a life free from the constraints of an eating disorder.
I use an integrative, multidisciplinary approach to treatment, drawing on various modalities to meet the unique needs of each client. These include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Ego State Therapy, and Polyvagal Theory techniques. Because eating disorders often involve psychological, medical, and nutritional components, I work collaboratively with a network of trusted professionals, including primary care physicians, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and registered dietitians. Addressing the medical and dietary aspects of eating disorders is a critical part of the recovery process, alongside the psychological work we do together.
Lived Experience and Passion for Helping Others: My work is deeply informed by my own lived experience with an eating disorder. I understand firsthand the profound impact these struggles can have—not only on the individual but also on their family and loved ones. This personal insight fuels my passion for helping clients navigate what can often feel like an overwhelming and isolating journey. I am here to provide support, guidance, and a compassionate space where recovery feels possible.
I approach therapy with the belief that it’s about reclaiming your authentic self and challenging the negative, often paralyzing, thoughts and behaviors tied to the eating disorder. I aim to empower clients to face these challenges with courage and resilience. For some, this journey may include additional support through medical and dietary referrals or, when symptoms are severe, discussing higher levels of care to ensure safety and effective treatment.
Hope and Recovery: The path to recovery is not easy, but it is possible to recover. I am honored to walk alongside my clients as they navigate this journey, helping them rediscover hope and reclaim a life free from the constraints of an eating disorder.
Anxiety Disorders
Understanding and Treating Anxiety Disorders:
Anxiety disorders occur when feelings of anxiety become persistent, overwhelming, and seemingly uncontrollable. These conditions are diagnosed when anxiety and related avoidance behaviors significantly interfere with daily life. Anxiety disorders are real and serious medical conditions—and they are the most common mental health disorders in the United States.
My Approach to Treating Anxiety:
In treating anxiety, I use a holistic and individualized approach, beginning with a thorough understanding of your history and how anxiety manifests in maladaptive thought patterns and behavioral shifts. By identifying these patterns, we can work together to create meaningful and sustainable change. From a Polyvagal Theory lens, I provide psychoeducation to help you better understand the physiological symptoms and state changes that occur in the body when fear or stress is activated. This awareness is key to recognizing how your body responds to anxiety and beginning to regulate those responses. You will also learn about cognitive distortions—unhelpful thought patterns that reinforce self-limiting beliefs. Through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), we will work on cognitive reframing to challenge and replace these distortions with healthier, more constructive ways of thinking.
Additionally, I integrate a range of evidence-based approaches, including:
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to process and resolve underlying traumas or triggers.
- Exposure Therapy to help you gradually and safely confront fears in a supportive environment.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to foster greater psychological flexibility and focus on living in alignment with your values.
- Ego State/Parts Work to explore and integrate internal conflicts, helping you better understand and navigate the different "parts" of yourself.
This comprehensive approach ensures that treatment is tailored to your unique needs, empowering you to reduce anxiety and regain control of your life.
Anxiety disorders occur when feelings of anxiety become persistent, overwhelming, and seemingly uncontrollable. These conditions are diagnosed when anxiety and related avoidance behaviors significantly interfere with daily life. Anxiety disorders are real and serious medical conditions—and they are the most common mental health disorders in the United States.
My Approach to Treating Anxiety:
In treating anxiety, I use a holistic and individualized approach, beginning with a thorough understanding of your history and how anxiety manifests in maladaptive thought patterns and behavioral shifts. By identifying these patterns, we can work together to create meaningful and sustainable change. From a Polyvagal Theory lens, I provide psychoeducation to help you better understand the physiological symptoms and state changes that occur in the body when fear or stress is activated. This awareness is key to recognizing how your body responds to anxiety and beginning to regulate those responses. You will also learn about cognitive distortions—unhelpful thought patterns that reinforce self-limiting beliefs. Through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), we will work on cognitive reframing to challenge and replace these distortions with healthier, more constructive ways of thinking.
Additionally, I integrate a range of evidence-based approaches, including:
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to process and resolve underlying traumas or triggers.
- Exposure Therapy to help you gradually and safely confront fears in a supportive environment.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to foster greater psychological flexibility and focus on living in alignment with your values.
- Ego State/Parts Work to explore and integrate internal conflicts, helping you better understand and navigate the different "parts" of yourself.
This comprehensive approach ensures that treatment is tailored to your unique needs, empowering you to reduce anxiety and regain control of your life.
Military - Veterans - Trauma
Since 2010, I have been dedicated to working with the military, Veteran population, and their families. As a Star Behavioral Health Provider and contract therapist for the Wounded Warrior Project, I bring both professional expertise and lived experience as a spouse to an OIF veteran for 13 years. Navigating the challenges of supporting a loved one with Post Traumatic Stress, I understand the profound impact these experiences can have on individuals and family systems alike.
My Work with Wounded Warrior Project: Since 2016, I have been a contract therapist with the Wounded Warrior Project, facilitating Project Odyssey retreats, an adventure-based retreat program helping warriors manage and overcome their invisible wounds, enhance their resiliency skills, and empowering them to live productive and fulfilling lives. Over the years, I have supported more than 23 retreats across the nation. |
A Passion for Service: Although I am a civilian, my deep connection to the military community comes from years of personal and professional experience. As a former spouse and co-parent of an Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Veteran, I have lived the challenges and triumphs that come with military life, including navigating the impact of invisible wounds like post-traumatic stress. These experiences, combined with over a decade of working closely with Veterans, active-duty service members, and their families, have given me a unique understanding of their struggles, resilience, and needs.My ability to relate stems from both empathy and lived experience. I understand the complexities of military culture, the sacrifices made by service members and their families, and the profound effects these experiences can have on relationships, mental health, and daily life. This personal insight allows me to connect authentically with my clients, offering a safe and supportive space to work through their challenges and embrace healing and growth.
Furthermore, I have had the honor of appearing on the Tamron Hall Show and participated in a documentary that aired on Veterans Day a few years ago, providing insight into the battle of post traumatic stress and invisible wounds of war. As a spouse at that time, I supported the mission of helping providing insight into the impact within relationships, mental health, and the importance of seeking help for struggles related to invisible wounds of war. Both personally and professionally, I have witnessed the profound transformation that can occur when individuals seek appropriate treatment. This includes not only my clients but also my co-parenting partner, who has since become a speaker for the Wounded Warrior Project, sharing his powerful story of struggle and triumph to inspire and support others on their journeys.
Furthermore, I have had the honor of appearing on the Tamron Hall Show and participated in a documentary that aired on Veterans Day a few years ago, providing insight into the battle of post traumatic stress and invisible wounds of war. As a spouse at that time, I supported the mission of helping providing insight into the impact within relationships, mental health, and the importance of seeking help for struggles related to invisible wounds of war. Both personally and professionally, I have witnessed the profound transformation that can occur when individuals seek appropriate treatment. This includes not only my clients but also my co-parenting partner, who has since become a speaker for the Wounded Warrior Project, sharing his powerful story of struggle and triumph to inspire and support others on their journeys.