I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor with over 11 years of clinical experience. My training and experience with motivational enhancement therapy empowers clients who are feeling stuck, frustrated, or looking for change. I provide my clients with unconditional regard while focusing on self-esteem development, expanding coping skills, increasing distress tolerance, and tackling life stressors. These techniques work well with older children, adolescents, and adults. I enjoy working with individuals of all ages and tailors her treatment approach to each individual’s needs. Clients of all ages will find me to be a helpful support in discovering self-worth, building coping skills and reframing maladaptive cognitions. I have specialized education and experience in this area that can help individuals make lifestyle changes. I believe that individuals with physical and mental health concerns must feel motivated, informed and skilled to make real and lasting changes. With years of experience with motivational interviewing in a variety of settings (outpatient, inpatient, substance abuse & HIV research trials, and emergency settings) I work with individuals to create a treatment plan to outline measurable and clear goals while building the confidence and tools to generate ideal outcomes. I earned a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Miami in 2006, completing her clinical training at the Institute for Individual and Family Counseling and Miami Children’s Hospital. I have spent most of her career in the Boston area – working in HIV and mental health research at the Boston Medical Center/ BU School of Medicine, substance abuse counseling and research at Butler Hospital/Warren Albert School of Medicine Brown University, clinical evaluations at Bayridge & Beverly Hospitals, and most recently using motivational interviewing with patients at the UNC School of Medicine. I use a person-centered approach to counseling and integrates cognitive behavioral techniques and/or Reality Therapy in her practice. While I enjoy working with individuals with a range of presenting problems, I have more extensive education and experience in behavioral medicine (managing chronic illness, increasing overall physical and mental health), dual diagnosis (substance use in addition to a mood or anxiety disorder), and adolescent/teen adjustment. My highest area of specialization involves providing motivational enhancement interventions and treatment plans for individuals struggling to reach a specific goal. Individual goals are varied, but some examples include: substance use reduction, smoking cessation and increasing self-esteem. Open to working with adolescents ages 11 and older.