I am a licensed clinical psychologist and board-certified behavioral sleep specialist who combines specialization in trauma and sleep issues with experience providing comprehensive psychotherapy for anxiety, mood disorders, life transitions and stress. During my 30+ years at the Worcester VA Clinic, I developed in-depth skills for working with trauma and PTSD, while also meeting the diverse needs of veterans seeking therapy ranging from chronic health, mood, substance and relationship issues to acute life stressors. I developed an anger management program that incorporates exploration of self-esteem and assertiveness skills to address unmet needs. I started a comprehensive program for assessment and treatment of sleep problems including insomnia, chronic nightmares, irregular sleep patterns, and sleep apnea / CPAP issues. I am also passionate about training others in behavioral sleep medicine, and have supervised many trainees, presented at conferences and co-led national workshops. I offer peer consultation on CBT for Insomnia and Nightmares as part of the team at www.cbtnightmares.org.
I pull mainly from research-backed therapies with a strong Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) foundation, such as Seeking Safety, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Written Exposure Therapy (WET), Exposure, Relaxation, and Rescripting Therapy (ERRT), and Imagery Rehearsal Therapy with Narrative Therapy (IRT-NT) as well as CBT-I (CBT for insomnia), CBT-Nightmares, and PAP Desensitization for sleep issues.
I believe in the importance of evidence-based practice and offer interventions that are well-grounded in scientific principles and research, while at the same time being innovative and creative in adapting these approaches to the unique needs of my clients. Similarly, I use a holistic approach to assess sleep issues in order to address the multiple, interactive factors that impact sleep to create a truly individualized plan. My therapeutic style is warm, honest, and direct, and I have a pretty good sense of humor. I ask a lot of questions and listen carefully to your answers so that together we can develop a plan that will address your needs and move you towards your goals. I offer both in person and telehealth visits. If you would like to learn more, please reach out to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation.