Biography
I’m a clinical psychologist who specializes in working with children who have experienced trauma. I offer outpatient evidence-based therapy such as trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, parent-child interaction therapy and combined parent-child cognitive behavioral therapy. I also help children and families in the CHECK/Foster Care Center, where I do consultations, preventive visits, and individual and family therapy for those who are involved in the child welfare system.
I’ve known I wanted to work with children since high school, when I heard a child psychologist speak at a career day event. Along the way I have been trained by prestigious child psychologists, including Barbara Boat, a local trauma psychologist, and Esther Deblinger, one of the creators of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. These experts inspired me to work with children who have had traumatic experiences because they are underserved, and because there are excellent evidence-based treatments that can help them.
I like to work as a team with the child’s caregivers. They are the experts on their child, and I am the expert in trauma therapy. Together we can help their child heal from past experiences. I am also sensitive to each family’s culture in my work.
In 2019, I was honored by my colleagues in the Cincinnati Children’s Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology with the Ann Moser Care and Compassion Award.
Outside the hospital, I spend most of my free time with my twin girls – teaching and playing with them. I come from a close family, so I also enjoy being with them as much as possible. Travel is one of my favorite hobbies. I’ve been to 13 countries, with Italy and France being my two favorites.
Clinical Interests
Child trauma, including child abuse and witnessing domestic violence; trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy; parent-child interaction therapy
Clinical Divisions
Behavioral Medicine, Child Abuse Prevention, CHECK Foster Care Clinic