About Me
Beginnings
I was born in Maryland and raised in a multicultural family: my Ukrainian-Polish Jewish grandparents, my Swedish mother, and my American father. Growing up in a multilingual and multiethnic household shaped my awareness of cultural complexity, unspoken dynamics, and resilience. These early experiences inform my work and deepen my commitment to supporting individuals and relationships across diverse backgrounds.
My first step into mental health work started with crisis lines, before landing a research role at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where I studied disordered eating patterns among youth. I earned my M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Southern California.
The Work I Do
I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California and Nevada with 10+ years of experience across community, research, and clinical settings - from Washington, D.C. to New York, Los Angeles, and now Reno, Nevada.
My approach is rooted in:
Attachment theory
Certified in Somatic Therapy through The Embody Lab
Polyvagal Theory
Internal Family Systems
Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy
Trauma-informed.
Evidence-based.
Liberation centered.
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Attachment-based therapy helps you explore how parenting and early caregiving influence how you love, trust, and show up in the world. This kind of work focuses on “re-parenting” the needs of your inner child.
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Somatic therapy focuses on the connection between your body and mind. By tuning into physical sensations, tension, and bodily responses, you can release stored stress, regulate your nervous system, and access deeper healing.
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Mindfulness helps you become aware of the present moment without judgment. By noticing your thoughts, emotions, and sensations as they arise, you can reduce stress, respond more skillfully, and feel more grounded in your life.
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Parts work (or Internal Family Systems) helps you understand the different “parts” of yourself - the voices, feelings, and impulses that can feel at odds. By getting to know and care for these parts, you can create internal harmony and make choices that feel aligned with your true self.
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We help you track how your body and mind respond to safety, threat, and connection. Drawing from Polyvagal Theory and Dan Siegel’s interpersonal neurobiology, we guide you in understanding and regulating your nervous system so you can move from reactive patterns to calm, grounded, and relationally attuned states.
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Nature-based healing integrates earth-based traditions with imagery and natural elements. By connecting with the rhythms of the earth, you can access insight, restore balance, and strengthen your sense of belonging in yourself and the world.
Why I Love What I Do
At the heart of my work is a deep belief in the healing power of presence, self-compassion, and reconnection - to ourselves, each other, and the natural world. I see therapy as a space where you don’t have to pretend, perform, or minimize your pain. Here, you can be messy, uncertain, grieving, angry, raw, and still worthy of care.
Healing doesn’t follow a straight line. We can’t rush growth. Here, we trust the unfolding.
I’m guided by a love for the earth and a deep commitment to climate and collective justice. My work is grounded in a liberation-oriented approach to care - one that honors your individual experience while recognizing the larger systems we’re all navigating. Outside of the therapy room, you’ll likely find me in nature, reading, hunting for retro albums, sipping coffee with friends, or chasing a bit of wonder on the road.