About Me
What I do
I help people who long to rekindle the joyful relationship they once found with their animal companion or heal from a wrenching loss, but feel suffocated by isolation and guilt.
I guide clients in making decisions so they can feel peace and I provide support so they feel understood. I bring energy and creativity to solving problems but can just be with you in the moment when that’s what you need.
Why I do this work
I know from raising my own cats and dogs and from many years in the veterinary field that it is a unique pain when we lose a beloved animal companion or when the bond with our animal companion is strained or stressed.
You may feel that others do not appreciate what you’re going through or that they won’t understand. I believe it is real, and it matters.
You deserve support.
Why work with me?
I believe that loving and strengthening our relationships with the humans and animals in our families and communities will change the world (or at least our little corner of it).
I believe that every person deserves to leave their veterinary office knowing that someone out there understands and can help.
That is why I started the Human-Animal Bond Project.
My Core Values
- Acceptance: Sometimes we become paralyzed by believing things ought to be a certain way. I accept you for who you are in this moment and give you permission to be kind to yourself and embrace your imperfections.
- Compassion: I join with clients from a place of love and empathy and work to help you feel safe and secure in the therapeutic environment.
- Growth/Perspective: Some problems may never be solved but we can change how we see a situation or cope with it. Sometimes that shift in perspective is all it takes to change how we feel, and sometimes, it is the journey itself which changes us.
- Creativity: I never stop seeking new ways to approach problems. I am integrative, not dogmatic. My commitment to finding something that works helps clients maintain motivation to work on their goals.
My Credentials and Experience
I am a New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with years of experience working with individuals and families across the lifespan. I hold a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Fordham University and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Rice University. I also have 10 years of experience as a support professional and adoption specialist in a New York City veterinary hospital.
My clinical experience includes working with children and adults with developmental disabilities with a focus on parent guidance, anxiety management, social skills training, and self-advocacy training. I have also worked with court-involved youth and adults with severe and persistent mental illness.
Additional experience and affiliations:
· The Good Dog Foundation Pet Therapy Certification
· Southern Breeze Equestrian Center, therapeutic horseback riding program volunteer
· Social Workers Advancing the Human-Animal Bond (SWAHAB), active member
· National Association of Social Workers (NASW), active member