"Know thyself’- inscription on the Temple of Apollo at Delph

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One of the most rewarding aspects of life is deeply knowing oneself; however, it is challenging to do this alone for many reasons, but primarily because we all have an unconscious that greatly influences our conscious mind without our direct awareness.

My role is to build and foster a safe, healing relationship to explore what you don’t know about yourself to expand your freedom and choices in your life.

I believe that a deep, authentic therapeutic relationship with a highly trained, dedicated psychoanalytic clinician offers an experience unlike any other. Such a connection provides the foundation for a dynamic, generative process that helps people face their most difficult challenges. Within a therapeutic relationship, individuals can safely engage in meaningful inner and interpersonal exploration, fostering self-knowledge, acceptance, creativity, truth, love, and adaptation. Over time, this work supports genuine internal change that paves the way for real external transformation, allowing people to create more satisfying lives that align with their true selves. My perspective is shaped by over a decade of clinical experience, personal growth through this work, and a tested faith in the process for those who seek it. In my experience, this approach is often most helpful for those who haven’t found lasting relief through other types of therapies and/or psychotropic medication. I offer a treatment path that typically suits those disenchanted with the superficial, mechanistic approach of mainstream mental health care, who are seeking not just help, but a profoundly soulful, attuned exploration in relationship that grants freedom in their life—something truer, more lasting, and alive to the whole of who they are.

While I work with people from all walks of life, I have extensive experience working with business owners, executives, college students (undergrad/graduate), academics, farmers, engineers, artists/creatives, healthcare providers, veterinarians, first responders, mothers, and military service members. I am also familiar working with individuals from a variety of spiritual, religious, and philosophical backgrounds, including Roman Catholic, Christian, Latter-Day Saints (Mormon), Jewish, Atheist, Agnostic, Pagan/Wiccan, New Age, Buddhist, and Hindu traditions. In addition, I have particular expertise in helping those who grew up in poverty, fringe communities, and highly dysfunctional family, social, and/or political systems where psychological, physical, economic, and/or sexual abuse and/or neglect—and the normalization and negation of that abuse and/or neglect—are/were chronic and pervasive.

As with physical healing, emotional healing requires patience, effort, and the willingness to face discomfort. True change arises through commitment and perseverance rather than quick fixes. While short-term therapies or medications may provide temporary relief, they often fail to address the deeper roots of psychic suffering. In my experience, long-term psychodynamic and psychoanalytic work offers the insight and growth necessary for lasting transformation. In the safety of a supportive therapeutic relationship, painful feelings can become tolerable messages and deepen awareness and become transformative through understanding. Together, we can strive to understand and integrate your emotions, nurturing self-compassion, insight, and fostering more fulfilling ways of being. The psychoanalytic process is an all-inclusive exploration of the soul, but often has external benefits such as patients discovering new internal capacities to love, work, and live with greater satisfaction.

While there are many perspectives and viewpoints in psychoanalysis and I respect many ways of working and thinking, I find that I am able to help people best when my work is grounded in classical and contemporary Freudian, British Object Relations, British Independent, and Intersubjective psychoanalytic orientations; however, I also draw from the universal wisdom of art, classical literature, nature, nursing, anthropology, and sociological perspectives. Of course, I tailor my approach to the unique needs of each individual, couple, family, or group—integrating various modalities as appropriate, but always guided by psychoanalytic ways of thinking and working because they have been proven to be most profound and helpful.

To engage in meaningful, transformative work, meeting at least once per week is essential. Less frequent sessions leave too much space between for the sustained exploration and continuity that actual change requires. In addition to psychoanalytic psychotherapy, I offer holistic psychiatric care as a triple board-certified nurse practitioner. This includes thoughtful, minimalist psychotropic medication management, as well as support for lifestyle and wellness integration—incorporating gut health, herbalism, nutrition, and assistance with de-prescribing for those wishing to reduce or discontinue medications. I do not initiate or maintain prescriptions for controlled or addictive substances (such as stimulants, sedatives, benzodiazepines, or certain pain medications) under any circumstances. Rather than masking symptoms, I view discomfort and emotional distress as meaningful signals—messages to be acknowledged, explored, and understood as part of the healing process. In my experience, it is through facing and working through painful realities that grieving is possible and can lead towards authenticity, fulfillment, and profound well-being. Suffering is only truly unbearable when faced in isolation, and I am here alongside your journey.

I provide care both in person at my office in Canandaigua, in New York’s Finger Lakes region, and virtually for patients in Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, & New York. If you are located in a state I am not licensed in and want to start treatment, please get in touch with me to discuss the process of getting licensed in your state of residence. While virtual sessions offer valuable accessibility and convenience, I strongly encourage all patients to meet with me in person at least once per year.