What you can expect from our work

Am I  a good fit for your needs and goals?

Starting therapy is a deeply personal decision—and one that deserves clarity, connection, and discernment. The decision to seek out therapy often doesn’t come from a place of ease and satisfaction, but of pain and hurt. Maybe you’re feeling overwhelmed, lost, numb, or stuck in patterns that seem impossible to change. Maybe something inside you knows that life isn’t supposed to feel this hard, but you’re not sure how to shift it. If you’re here, reading this, it’s likely because part of you is ready—for something different, something deeper, something more honest. My role is to walk with you into the heart of your experience, helping you uncover what’s holding you back, and guide you toward lasting change, a sense of peace, and genuine growth.

I want you to know: your pain makes sense. It’s not random, and it’s not a flaw. It’s a signal. A sign that something important in you is asking for attention, compassion, and care. In our work together, we won’t ignore that pain or rush to fix it. Instead, we’ll turn toward it—gently—so we can understand where it’s coming from and what it’s trying to say.

This kind of work isn’t always easy. It asks you to feel what’s been buried, to look at the stories you’ve carried, and to let go of ways of surviving that may have once protected you, but now keep you small or disconnected. But you’re not meant to do that alone. I’ll be with you—present, steady, and deeply attuned—as we make sense of the parts of your life that feel tangled, painful, or forgotten.

I don’t see therapy as a place to be “fixed.” I see it as a space to be seen. Heard. Understood. To come back to yourself—not the version you’ve had to become to survive, but the truer version underneath. The one who still knows how to love, to long, to create, to hope—even if that feels far away right now.

I offer therapy that is not only highly specialized but deeply human. My approach is rooted in compassion, presence, and belief—in your potential, your strength, and your capacity to heal. I help you explore the origins of your struggles, stay organized and compassionate through the hard parts, and move with intention toward clarity, transformation, and wholeness. This kind of work can lead to lasting change, real growth, and a stronger sense of who you are.

I show up in this work not as a detached expert, but as a steadfast ally—one who honors your story, your resilience, and the courage it takes to step into the unknown. You don’t have to figure it all out on your own. I’ll be with you—skilled, grounded, and attuned—every step of the way.

I don’t see therapy as a place to be “fixed.” I see it as a space to be seen. Heard. Understood. To come back to yourself—not the version you’ve had to become, but the truer and whole version underneath. The one who still knows how to love, to long, to create, to hope—even if that feels far away right now.

My approach is holistic and relational. I pay close attention to the ways your past relationships, family history, identity, culture, and life experiences have shaped your nervous system, your beliefs, and the way you move through the world. We carry so much in our bodies, our silence, and our coping. We’ll bring all of that into the room—because all of it matters.

This kind of work tends to reveal both your brilliance and your burdens: the parts of you that are strong, resourceful, and full of potential—and the wounds, fears, protections, and stuck places that have quietly shaped your way of being. We will honor them because they were needed at the time. We’ll also explore what it means to live beyond survival and decide what still serves you—and what it’s time to let go of. To find your voice. To feel safe in your body. To connect, rest, create, and choose—freely and consciously.

This is deep work, but it moves at your pace, staying grounded, checking in, and making sure you feel supported every step of the way. You don’t have to rush. And I’ll be there, every step of the way, helping you make meaning, stay grounded, and integrate what you uncover. This isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about coming home to who you were always meant to be—before the wounds, the roles, the pressure, and the pain.

Many of my clients begin therapy with a specific challenge in mind—and end up uncovering layers of insight, healing, and possibility they hadn’t anticipated. As you start to grow, new possibilities often show up—new ways of being in your relationships, your work, your identity, and your life. That’s the beauty of this process: as you grow, new doors open. I specialize in helping you walk through them—toward new ways of living, loving, and leading.

If this is the kind of work you’re looking for, I’d be privileged to walk with you.

My Treatment Approach

What underpins my work

I believe the most meaningful thing I bring to this work is my wholehearted, ongoing commitment to three things: deep presence, lifelong learning, and personal integration. For over two decades, I’ve devoted myself to the art and practice of therapy—not just through advanced training, supervision, and consultation, but by listening closely to what truly helps my clients, and also what helped me in my own healing.

My decision to become a therapist wasn’t just about serving others—it was also about making sense of my own life. From the beginning, I knew this calling was personal. I’ve spent years doing the difficult, tender work of facing my own story—especially my early experiences—so I could show up as someone grounded, whole, and free. I believe deeply that doing my own healing is a sacred part of being able to support others in theirs.

My clinical foundation rests on well-established, evidence-based models rooted in family systems, attachment, trauma, intergenerational patterns, and somatic psychotherapy. I rely on these approaches not just because they’re research-backed, but because I have had the experience—time and time again—that they help people create real, lasting change.

Alongside my work with clients, I’ve also poured my energy into supporting other therapists. I’ve always been drawn to the process of what it means to become a therapist—how much growth, vulnerability, and inner work it requires. Over the past ten years, I’ve developed a framework called The Parallel Process™ (trademark pending), designed to help therapists thrive. It’s a model that provides the structure, clarity, and support we all need to grow into the most authentic and effective versions of ourselves—in service to our clients, our craft, our growth, and our calling.

It includes the important process of Person of the Therapist or Self of the Therapist work. As therapy is fundamentally a human-to-human encounter, we must also engage in our own process of exploration, processing, and organizing our lived experiences. We must be mindful of mitigating the impact our own ‘stuff’ could have on the client’s experience. 

This model shapes everything I do at The Center for Connection, Healing and Change. It shows up in how I work with my team, how I support therapists in training or consultation, and (when appropriate and requested) how I walk alongside therapists in their own therapy journeys. I also share this work through training and consultation with clinical supervisors, practice owners, teachers, and leaders in the mental health field.

If you’re a person longing for your next phase of growth, someone tired of holding everything together alone, or you choose to live in a helping or healing role – I’m here for that. Whether you’re burned out, at a crossroads, or just feeling that quiet pull toward something more meaningful, we can explore what healing and expansion look like for you now.

Originally from England, I moved to the U.S. over 16 years ago to build a life with my (now retired) military husband. We have three very precious children who challenge and inspire me every day to live with more honesty, presence, and purpose. They are a daily reminder of why I do this work—and why breaking cycles, showing up with love, and healing from the inside out matter so deeply.

I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Virginia, and I earned my BSc in Psychology from the University of Leeds in England and a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Southern Mississippi—a training experience that truly changed my life. I’ll always be grateful to the mentors who saw me, pushed me, and helped shape the therapist I’ve become.

.To schedule a free consultation with me, please call (703) 878-3290 or click here