I am a licensed clinical psychologist in Evanston, Illinois, and have been working in the field of mental health since 2002. I work with individuals in English and in Spanish.

I have worked in a variety of settings, primarily medical and educational.

At Swedish Covenant Hospital I provided outpatient psychotherapy, consulted with medical inpatients, evaluated patients on the rehabilitation unit and led group therapy in the psychiatric inpatient unit.  I also directed the clinical training program and supervised graduate students in psychology.

Prior to working at Swedish, I was on the team of North Shore University Health System’s Perinatal Depression Program in Evanston, IL, and also provided psychotherapy at WomanCare’s Emotional Wellness program in Buffalo Grove, IL. I completed my post-doctoral training at Mt. Sinai Hospital’s Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Clinic in Chicago, IL and also worked as a mental health consultant in their Women Infants and Children (WIC) program. Additionally, I have taught several graduate clinical psychology courses at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

I completed a fellowship in Contextual Behavior Therapy from the University of Chicago and frequently attend conferences and trainings through the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science.

I completed specialized training in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders from Postpartum Support International, and and I work closely with medical providers to connect women to proper mental health care.  

 I hold a certificate in Communicative and Cultural Competency for Bilingual Mental Health Providers from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas.

Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (2006)

Internship in Clinical Psychology at Lincoln Medical Center in Bronx, NY (2005-2006)

Certificate in Communicative and Cultural Competency for Bilingual Mental Health Providers from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas (2005)

B.A. in Psychology & Spanish from the University of Wisconsin, Madison (1999)

Therapy may be brief or longer-term. We will work together to set the pace, scope and plan of therapy, depending on what you need.

Individual Therapy

I have extensive experience treating common problems with adults and adolescents, such as depression, anxiety, relationship problems, body image, trauma, and loss. My therapeutic orientation is humanistic, relational, and educational. This means that I emphasize collaboration, positivity, and transparency. I also incorporate health coaching and motivational interviewing in therapy, if relevant, to help people increase healthy lifestyle behaviors and take better care of their bodies.

Family Therapy

I view family therapy as an important adjunct when working with individuals, if requested or appropriate to the situation. I aim to help family members increase empathy and compassion for one another while improving communication. Therapy works to address problems, while highlighting strengths and incorporating positive engagement strategies for re-connection.

Perinatal Mental Health

Did you know that a woman is more at risk for emotional illness during and after pregnancy than at any other period in her life? Nearly 80% of women experience some form of mood instability during the immediate period following childbirth; 20% go on to develop an anxiety or depressive disorder. Getting support during this time can be critical. My approach is team-oriented, in which I partner with the medical providers and encourage the support of family members and others such as lactation consultants, new-parent groups and more. I strongly recommend all my clients to use NorthShore Univeristy HealthSystem’s 24 hour confidential MOMS Line (866) 364-6667 (MOMS) to address crises as they arise and to learn about available resources during the perinatal time.

Teletherapy and Home Visits

Flexibility is very important, and it is not always possible for someone to attend in-person sessions. Whether due to a new baby at home, a medical issue, travel, or re-location, I am willing to be available for distance sessions through phone or via the web, if this seems appropriate. Home visits can also be arranged, if this is feasible, based on location and practicality.

Insurance and Fees

Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, Cigna PPO, United Healthcare PPO, Out of Network