If you spend any time with a therapist who is trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), you will notice something striking: they like to speak in metaphors. You might hear about switch that can be flipped on or off, or an experience of getting caught in quicksand, or someone standing in a hole with…
I am a co-founder of Wildflower, a psychotherapist, a presenter and a consultant in the area of perinatal and reproductive mental health. Many other aspects of my personal identity shape my clinical work: chief among them is the family and immigrant background which has informed my attunement to the psychological upheaval that accompanies major life transitions and to the many sociocultural forces that impact our lived experience. In my clinical work, I am focused on helping people thrive and cope during periods of significant change, and particularly during journeys towards and through parenthood which may involve infertility, losses, depression, anxiety, and conflict. I work with people from all walks in life. Clients I work with are some of the strongest, most resilient folks I know. They don’t always feel this way, and they come to therapy feeling raw, maybe lost, and certainly quite vulnerable. It takes courage to confront your pain and struggle. I view psychotherapy as a deeply collaborative process that aims to help you discover and tap into your strengths and resources. You already have what it takes to feel better, be happier, face challenges – good psychotherapy basically helps you access all that. This can only happen if your therapist genuinely cares about and respects you and is invested in their own ongoing professional development and personal growth. I have extensive training in perinatal and reproductive mental health, evidence-based treatment of mood and anxiety disorders, sex therapy, and trauma. I earned my bachelor’s degree in international studies at the University of Chicago and obtained my master’s degree in clinical social work at the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration. I often present on topics related to mental health. I am an AASECT-certified sex therapist and a certified perinatal mental health clinician. My most valuable learning experiences come from my clients: their experience, wisdom and perspective have shaped my clinical practice the most, something I am deeply grateful for. LCSW License Number:149016046 Type 1 NPI Number: 1841631132 Accepts: BCBS PPO and BlueChoice plans, Lyra, self-pay and out of network clients Pronouns she/her/hers Selected training and affiliation AASECT-Certified Sex Therapist Certified Perinatal Mental Health Clinician Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Training Bringing Baby Home Educator Training, Gottman Institute Circle of Security Parent Educator Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) training Gottman Method Level 1 training Dialectical Behavior Therapy Training Key beliefs People are stronger and more resilient than they often realize. Our culture teaches us to be fiercely independent. To thrive, we need to embrace being interdependent -- deep connection with others is essential for happiness. More about me I love the outdoors and hiking, camping, kayaking. I can’t live without chocolate. I feel grateful every day for getting to do the work I love.
The Only Way Out of Anxiety Is Through It: Exposure and Response Prevention
There’s a particular kind of exhaustion that comes from managing anxiety instead of living your life. Rehearsing the conversation you’re avoiding. Circling back to check the stove, the lock, the windows. Ruminating on a thought you can’t shake. Avoiding situations that make you uncomfortable. Googling symptoms. Struggling with anxiety can feel like a full-time job.…
Let’s Not Forget About Dads: Paternal Mental Health
On Father’s Day we celebrate dads with humorous cards, gifts, and family gatherings. But beneath the lighthearted celebration sits something rarely named out loud: many fathers experience real, diagnosable mental health struggles during pregnancy and the first year of parenthood, and those struggles are widely overlooked. Most public attention around perinatal mental health has focused…
Beyond Mental Health Awareness: Care, Advocacy, and Action
Mental Health Awareness Month is a needed invitation to look beyond the surface of our lives. Even in 2026, mental health challenges often go unnoticed, not only by friends or family, but sometimes by the very person who is struggling. It’s actually very easy to lose connection with oneself amidst the relentless pressures of everyday life.…
Grief Has Many Faces: The Emotional Realities of Infertility
Infertility and grief belong together. For many people in the midst of efforts to conceive, it can feel strange, or even wrong, to acknowledge this fact. After all, hope has not been lost and you are actively fighting for the future you imagined for your family. However, the presence of hope does not cancel out…
Self-care as a mindset and a practice: Redefining a misunderstood concept
“There is simply not enough time for everything” is probably the most common complaint I hear in my psychotherapy practice from busy moms, busy executives, busy students, busy colleagues. The other day as I helplessly looked at my mile-long task list, I caught myself yearning for a quick fix — a magic pill that could…
Couples Intensives at Wildflower: A Faster Way to Get Your Relationship Back on Track
Relationships do not break down overnight. Over time, many couples find themselves repeating the same fruitless conversations, facing the same frustrations, and wondering why nothing ever seems to change. When life is busy and schedules are full, it can be hard to find the time and space to actually work through what is happening. That…
Looking Back, Moving Forward: A Mindful Start to the New Year
I have to admit, I have a soft spot for this time of year. As we wish each other a happy new year, there’s a shared sense that a chapter is ending, even if we can’t quite put our finger on what will be different in the new one that has yet to be written.…
Three Key Skills to Navigate Challenging Interactions During the Holidays
The holidays arrive every year accompanied by twinkling lights, festive songs, and for many families, an undercurrent of tension. Celebrating with family can sometimes feel less like a haven from the everyday stress and more like tiptoeing through a booby-trapped obstacle course, where one comment can set off years’ worth of pent-up feelings. Holidays can…
Better Sex Starts with Better Conversations
Understanding Sexual Communication Sexual communication is just what it sounds like: it’s communication about sex. Seems simple, right? It isn’t, but not because some special or arcane set of skills are needed. Our culture teaches us to be profoundly uncomfortable and/or conflicted about sex. Many people spend a lifetime with another person without broaching the…
