Teen and Young Adult Therapist in Charlotte, NC

As a parent of a teen who is struggling, you are at wits' end. You want to see them feeling better, not stressed or anxious. You want to see them performing to their full potential and enjoying life again. You have tried offering suggestions, but you are met with blank stares; or opposition. You remember your happy, confident and calm child and wonder when or if they will return? Imagine what life would be like if your teen had the skills and confidence to tackle any difficult situation or emotion. They would feel better about themselves, and you could relax, knowing they were capable of handling difficult experiences, while also knowing when and how to reach out for help. Change is possible.

I do my best work with teens and young adults who need a compassionate approach and a safe place to move forward from their experiences of trauma, loss, anxiety and self-doubt

As an adolescent, you have have plenty of adults in your life telling you what to do.
Your teachers assign hours of work a night, your parents are nagging about colleges and career, coaches who expect perfection - and they all tell you how important it is to do all these things, while maintaining a social life, extracurriculars and 8 hours of sleep a night.... I know all these adults have the best intentions, but that doesn't change the way it makes you feel - overwhelmed, exhausted, and not good enough.

I am not another adult who is going to tell you what to do - that is not what therapy with me is about. We will build a relationship where you feel heard and understood. When we work together, we will identify goals you want to reach, barriers you may face and collaborate on specific skills that result in positive changes for you in school and at home. We will discover what motivates you, and how to successfully balance all of the demands you are experiencing.

About me

I am originally from Boston, Ma but have been calling Charlotte home for 10 years! Sports are a huge part of my life and always have been - from t-ball at 5 to a career in Sports Medicine. When I was thinking about leaving Athletic Training, I made a pros and cons list about my current job - the number 1 thing I loved about my job was the relationships and connections I made with my athletes. I loved being a part of their journey, building trust and being a safe space for them and wanted to find a way to do that on a larger scale, which led me to where I am today. My love for sports and games is evident when working with me - I often integrate Jenga, feelings basketball, walking and other movement into our sessions because I believe playing games and integrating movement breaks down walls and helps foster connection.

My Qualifications

Bachelors Degree in Athletic Training from Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts
Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from University of North Carolina at Charlotte
NBCC Nationally Certified Counselor
Training in Trauma Focused - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
8 years working as a athletic trainer, instructor, advisor, and director of programming for new students at Charlotte Country Day School