Why work with me?

My clients have taught me that authenticity (being real) is essential to create the safety needed for growth and change. I am grateful  for my mountain heritage that helped instill that authenticity in me. I am real. I am me. And I want you to be you when you are with me.

I grew up in rural Western North Carolina, the first in my family to attend college. I began my professional life as a teacher. Since I was so good at school and loved learning, I went on to earn two graduate degrees—a Master of Divinity and a Master of Social Work with a Certification in Substance Abuse.

I am dually licensed as a Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and  a Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS). This is useful, since many folks struggle with disordered eating and substance misuse at the same time. If this is the case with you, know that you are not alone, and that you will not be judged.

My passion for treating eating disorders and my belief in the possibility of  full recovery is rooted in my family’s experience and eventual triumph over this devastating illness. I use Family Based Treatment for eating disorders in children and adolescents, which is very different from “family therapy.” Family Based Treatment supports parents as they help their child eat and overcome eating disordered behaviors.

I enjoy working with families, individuals, and couples, whether heterosexual or LGBTQ.

• My areas of practice include:
  – Family-Based Treatment for Anorexia and Bulimia in Children and Teens
  – Disordered Eating in Children, Teens, and Adults
  – Trauma and Anxiety
  – Compulsive Spending and Money Issues
  – Family and Couples Therapy
  – Co-occurring Substance Abuse and Disordered Eating

Helping people grow and heal requires skill, knowledge, intuition, curiosity, humor, and humility.

I have the best job in the world, accompanying amazing people on their journeys to more abundant, satisfying lives!