Welcome to ARA Mental Health Counseling Services
Here your thoughts, feelings, and experiences are honored without judgment. Together, we’ll explore, heal, and grow, empowering you to (re)discover your inner strength and resilience.
Take a deep breath, you’re exactly where you need to be.
Starting in my young adult years, I knew that my calling was to become a therapist based on my own lived experiences with depression, anxiety, and complex family dynamics. My first experience working in the mental health sector was at an intensive outpatient program as a substance abuse counselor in Harlem, NY. This experience cultivated my ability to hold a nonjudgmental and grounding space for people as they manage current struggles and past traumas. I have hit the ground running since then with work in children and family services and I have leadership experience working on ACT teams, and in private practice. The variety in my work history and my own journey with healing has lit a strong passion in me to support adults who want to find their inner compass again (or maybe even for the first time).
What was your path to becoming a therapist?
What should someone know about working with you?
The first 1-2 sessions will involve gathering some of your history and information about what is happening in your life. After that, sessions are open and unstructured since my therapeutic focus is based on the present experience. Even if a past event is being processed in session, I will ask questions with the intention of increasing your present awareness of feelings, thoughts, sensations, or images that may come up. I believe in holistic treatment, which means that I take into account the many different parts of an individual and help people integrate whatever parts of themselves hold judgment or pain. I typically do not give homework; however, there may be times when I suggest considering certain parts of the work in between sessions. I’m an interactive therapist and I welcome and encourage feedback from my clients. I love working with people who are open to change, willing to be vulnerable, and dedicated to this process.
How do your core values shape your approach to therapy?
I fundamentally value honesty and listening deeply to my clients. If I feel confused about what someone is expressing, I will ask for clarification because I always want my clients to feel that they are being heard and understood. I value the importance of self-care, healthy boundaries, and self-expression, and I seek to empower my clients in finding theirs.
Education, Credentials, and Interests:
I obtained my B.A from St. Francis College and M.A at Brooklyn College. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and have my Master’s Credential as an Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor who has been in the field for over 10 years. I enjoy keeping up with all the changes in the field, and often find myself in trainings and continuing education courses to deepen my therapy practice.