Why work with
Katherine?
Many of my clients come to me wanting to reduce emotional overwhelm, feeling stuck, feeling not good enough, and wanting healthier relationships with themselves and others. Some of my clients are new to therapy, and some of my clients work with me when therapy hasn't provided enough relief in the past. My approach is affirming, supportive and understanding.
Our work together is about understanding why your symptoms make sense. Maybe you’ve been told you’re too sensitive, too much, or that you shouldn't feel the way you do. You may carry a chronic sense of feeling misunderstood. You might appear to have it all together on the outside but underneath, you’re struggling. This can show up as anxiety, depression, self-criticism, caretaking, over-functioning, avoiding failure, or isolating while still longing for connection. These responses are not your identity and they are not flaws. They are adaptive survival strategies that have actually helped you cope in the past but might not be helpful now.
What would working together address?
What would a first session look like?
Typically, our first session is about getting to know each other. I want to learn what brings you to therapy at this point in your life, where you feel blocked, and how this impacts you. I also want you to get a feel of who I am and how I work. It's important for you to feel safe with me, and confident that I understand where you are coming from.
My Qualifications
I am an independently Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New Jersey.
I graduated with a Master of Social Work from Rutgers University in 2020. Prior to private practice, I worked for many years in an outpatient hospital setting at Penn Medicine, gaining invaluable experience working with all types of mental health issues, including trauma stabilization. In private practice, my specialization is working with people with histories of complex trauma, narcissistic abuse, emotional invalidation, and PTSD.
I am certified to deliver Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and I am trained to deliver Coherence Therapy. I am a Certified Clinical Trauma Therapist, and I have extensive education, training and experience in Internal Family Systems, Polyvagal theory, Structural Dissociation theory, and Attachment theory. I also draw from multiple therapy modalities such as Mindfulness, Self Compassion, ACT and CBT. The field of therapy is rapidly evolving, and I find myself always wanting to learn more. I am happy to discuss my education, training and experience at any time.
