Support for growing minds at any age.
Over the years, I have connected with hundreds of kids in classrooms, summer camps, research labs, residential facilities, hospitals, and clinics. I have never met a “bad kid.” Kids overwhelmingly want to be good, even the ones who challenge us. They have simply developed a bad habit or two, and need some specialized guidance to learn their way out of it. I’ve also never met a bad parent. If you’re reading this, and have ever worried you might be a bad parent with a bad kid, I know you both are doing the best you can with with the tools you have. Parenting is hard, and it’s made even harder by today’s compare-and-despair social media landscape that makes you think you’re the only one struggling. Allow me to assess the situation, act as your co-pilot, and bring you real solutions that last longer than what you’ve tried already.
I have the most experience with youth ages 2 to 21, but I have experience with young adults as well. I am comfortable treating many different areas of concern, including:
| Oppositional Defiance | ADHD | DMDD |
| Conduct Disorder | Depression | Generalized Anxiety |
| Social Anxiety | Separation Anxiety | Selective Mutism |
| Panic Attacks | Phobias | PTSD |
| OCD | School Avoidance | Tics |
| Skin-Picking | Hair-Pulling | Toileting/Potty |
| Picky Eating | Bedwetting | Bedtime Issues |
| Sibling Conflict | Screen time |
How I help
This part gets a bit technical, but you deserve to know how I think! I practice with a primarily cognitive behavioral approach. More specifically, I analyze concerns using a third-wave cognitive behavioral framework, and apply techniques from second- and third-wave approaches during treatment. I choose these methods because I believe they have the best scientific support. I am familiar with the following treatment modalities, and use my knowledge of all of them to inform your care:
| Parent-Child Interaction Therapy | Behavioral Parent Training |
| Parent Management Training | Brief Strategic Family Therapy |
| Functional Family Therapy | Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) |
| Trauma-Focused CBT | Acceptance and Commitment Therapy |
| Habit Reversal Training | Exposure and Response Prevention |
| Behavior Activation |
If you want to know about a type of therapy you do not see here, feel free to ask me about it when we talk!
Training and Certifications
I have a B.A. in psychology from Duke University and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Central Michigan University. This is how I can call myself “Dr.” I completed my internship and postdoctoral residency training at the Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center. I have additional certifications in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT). For PCIT, I am a Within-Agency Trainer, which means I know it well enough to certify other therapists in the approach. I have also published research about PCIT, including a PCIT handbook chapter on how well it works around the world with other cultures and in other languages. Understanding the research is important, as it helps me serve you effectively as a provider and helps you to make informed decisions as a consumer. Don’t ever be afraid to ask me about the “why;” a good clinician should show their work and provide a good rationale for your treatment.
Teletherapy for Children?
I offer Teletherapy for children, teens, and families. What that means is that I will meet with you over a secure video call, from the comfort of your home, and your child will be included in the call. Some families think that Teletherapy is not possible with young children (see my FAQ), but this is simply untrue. Very young children (under age 10) can benefit from therapy as long as there is significant parent involvement. It might be easier to think of therapy for young children as being for parents in some ways, since I will be teaching you how to be a skilled “co-therapist.” If you’re still unsure, please call me and I’d be happy to explain.
My Roots
I was raised in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and was raised to love Carolina Blue and the Tar Heels even though I later went to Duke. I can’t decide who to root for now! North Carolina was a wonderful and family-friendly place to grow up, and I have moved back home after spending years in other states gathering education and experience. I like to joke that I drew a circle around the country (North Carolina, then Pennsylvania, then Michigan, then Oklahoma, then Florida, and now back to Durham). The Triangle area has a unique population of people, being a convergence of rural and urban lifestyles and values. I have learned that there’s something to like in everyone, regardless of background, whether I’m talking to an HIV patient, a veteran, or a hurricane survivor. Living in many places can make you feel small, in a good way.
Join me on social media!
I share free parenting resources and evidence-based mental health information on TikTok, Instagram/Facebook, and YouTube. I also share them right here on my website!
