Starting therapy can feel intimidating—especially if you’re unsure of what to expect or worried about saying the “right” things. Many clients tell me they felt anxious before their first session, unsure of where to begin or afraid of doing it wrong.
You don’t need to prepare, perform, or have the right words. Therapy is a space where you can show up exactly as you are—even if that means feeling nervous, overwhelmed, or unsure. We will move at your pace, while I help guide the conversation so you aren’t left wondering what you’re supposed to say.
Therapy for Adults & College Students
I specialize in providing individual therapy for adults and college students throughout Pennsylvania & New York who appear highly capable and high-functioning on the outside, yet struggle internally with anxiety, overwhelm, and emotional exhaustion.
Many of my clients are high-achieving, driven, and responsible individuals who struggle with:
Chronic anxiety or overthinking
Perfectionism and fear of failure, and harsh self-criticism
Persistent feelings of shame, inadequacy, or “never being enough”
People-pleasing and difficulty setting boundaries
Feeling disconnected from their own needs or identity
College students and young adults often seek therapy during periods of academic, professional, or relational transition—when pressure, comparison, and uncertainty begin to impact confidence, emotion regulation, and self-trust.
Therapy focuses on increasing emotional awareness, strengthening self-trust, improving self-worth, and developing effective coping strategies to support growth, balance, and long-term resilience
.
Trauma & Narcissistic Abuse Recovery
I also specialize in working with individuals who have experienced emotional or psychological trauma, including survivors of domestic abuse and narcissistic or emotionally manipulative relationships. These patterns can develop in relationships with romantic partners, parents, siblings, adult children, or authority figures such as supervisors or employers—particularly when there is chronic invalidation, control, emotional inconsistency, or a lack of accountability.
Trauma related to narcissistic traits is not limited to romantic relationships. Many individuals experience lasting emotional harm from family systems or professional environments where their needs, boundaries, or reality were consistently minimized or dismissed.
This work does not require labeling or diagnosing others; therapy focuses on how repeated relational patterns—often described as narcissistic traits—have affected your emotional safety, self-trust, and well-being.
Clients impacted by these dynamics often struggle with:
Self-doubt and diminished self-worth
Difficulty trusting themselves or others
Fear of conflict or abandonment
Boundary challenges and people-pleasing patterns
Emotional reactivity or numbness
Therapy supports trauma recovery by helping clients process past experiences, rebuild self-esteem, strengthen boundaries, and develop healthier relational patterns rooted in safety, autonomy, and self-respect.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
I am a Certified Dialectical Behavior Therapist, offering structured, skills-based therapy grounded in evidence-based DBT. This approach is especially helpful for individuals experiencing emotional dysregulation, anxiety, perfectionism, trauma responses, relationship difficulties, and major life transitions.
DBT focuses on developing skills in:
Emotional regulation
Distress tolerance
Interpersonal effectiveness
Mindfulness
These skills support clients in managing stress more effectively, reducing emotional overwhelm, and responding to challenges with greater balance and intention.
What You Can Expect from Therapy
Therapy is a collaborative, supportive process focused on helping clients slow down, gain insight into patterns, and build more self- compassionate and confidence within their relationship with themselves.
Together, we work to:
Reduce anxiety and emotional overwhelm
Increase self-worth and self-confidence
Develop healthier boundaries and communication
Address perfectionism and people-pleasing patterns
Develop a more secure attachment pattern within relationships
Navigate life transitions with clarity and self-trust
What to Expect in Your First Few Therapy Sessions
Your initial session: I will review any forms that may still need to be completed for your records. I will gather some basic information from you, and give you the space to ask questions you may have. We will discuss things like session frequency, scheduling availability, and any insurance/payment questions you may still have.
During your first few therapy sessions, the focus is on getting to know you—at a pace that feels comfortable and respectful. You won’t be expected to share everything at once or have the “right” words. Early sessions typically involve discussing what brought you to therapy, your current concerns, relevant life experiences, and what you hope to gain from counseling.
Most importantly, these initial visits are about creating a sense of safety, trust, and collaboration. Therapy is not about judgment or pressure—it’s a space where you are met with curiosity, compassion, and support as you begin to understand yourself more deeply.