Kindred Roots of NC

I am a Child & Family Therapy/ Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) in North Carolina. I have over 20 years of experience working with children, adolescents, teens, adults and families in health care, group practice and educational settings. Prior to moving to N.C., I was a Clinician and Behavior Specialist for the New York City Department of Education, District 75 Citywide Special Education Programs. I provided training and consultation with administrators and educators throughout NYC on supporting children with neurodivergent conditions, learning disabilites, emotional & behavioral disorders in a variety of settings using evidence based practices. I worked with K-12 public schools, charter schools, mental health and healthcare agencies to promote systems collaboration and communication.

I am trained in Cornell University’s Therapeutic Crisis Intervention. I am also trained in Emotional Literacy Ruler Program with Yale University. I have presented at numerous venues including Bank Street College of Education, United Federation of Teachers on Positive Behavior Intervention Supports and Response to Intervention/Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, Crisis Management, Mindfulness and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for Families.

Personal Background

I am originally from the Hudson Valley in Upstate New York. I was fortunate to grow roots in my childhood and young adulthood surrounded by the beauty of the Hudson River, and the Catskill Mountains. After college, I moved downstate and worked in New York City. I enjoyed the experience of the hustle and bustle for 10 years, but when it came time to start a family, my heart yearned to find nature once again to ground me. In 2015, the opportunity arose to move to North Carolina with my young family. I was uncertain what would lie ahead on my path. It took courage to leave my New York roots for 30+ years. But just like plants and trees, you can “uproot” them and plant them in a new environment. In order for them to thrive and flourish, you must nurture your roots in these surroundings and make connections within the new community. It was comforting to know there were many “transplants” from all of the world here in the Triangle. I have connected with many families looking to make connections with others who had been “uprooted” from their family of origin and familiar enviroments, as well as NC native families who have welcomed us. I feel rooted here in North Carolina with my family. We enjoy visiting the NC coast, the Blue Ridge mountains and living near the beauty of the Haw River and Jordan Lake.

The Ensos Circle– ”A circle of togetherness” The circle symbolizes strength, the circle of life, connection, letting go of expectations and accepting the beauty in imperfection.
The Tree of Life: “A symbol of personal growth, strength and beauty” Trees reflect life, strength, and healing. A tribe of trees stand together, like kindred spirits, honoring themselves exactly for what they are. Trees spread their roots deep into the soil to ground and stabilize themselves.
The Cardinal– Not only is the cardinal the bird of North Carolina, but a common interpretation of seeing a cardinal is a message from a departed loved one. Whenever you see one, it signifies that they are visiting you. They also come through moments of joy and sorrow to let you know they will always be there for you. It sits on the ground at the base of the tree, symbolizing the connection to the roots.

My Therapeutic Approach

I provide neurodiversity affirming therapy. This therapeutic approach creates an environment and treatment plan rooted in a deep understanding of neurodivergence. It emphasizes supporting individuals and their families through their challenges and making accommodations for their needs. This approach views neurodivergence not as a flaw that needs correction, but as a distinct neurotype or brain style that is an integral part of the individuals identity. The goal is to empower neurodivergent individuals to recognize and leverage strengths, navigate challenges, and make adjustments tailored to their personal requirements.
By gaining understanding of each individuals neurotype in a family system, and how a “mismatch” in unique sensory needs may occur which can often lead to discord. We can discover better ways to interact, communicate and self advocate for accommadations.
I integrate an empathic and supportive style with active treatment that is informed by evidence based treament such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mind-body awareness skills, Sensory and Somatic Based Therapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy and Bowen Family Systems Therapy.
We will consider patterns in how you think, feel, and behave, and how shifting any of these can help you better reach your goals. My goal is to equip you with concrete skills you can use to enact meaningful change in your life.

Understanding Mindfulness

*Mindfulness allows us to become aware of underlying experiences—feelings, impulses, needs, hopes, beliefs, and bodily experiences.
* Without mindfulness we get stuck in the realm of narrative—the stories the family members have told themselves over and over again about what is wrong with them and everyone else.
* Mindfulness allows us to drop into the unknown, to bring the witnessing brain to experiences that have been invisible and automatic.
* With a caring and exploratory attitude, we will discover new things about what is really going on with individuals and how this impacts the family dynamic.

My passion is working with neurodiverse with families, children, adolescents, young adults through life transitions and stages. Areas that I specialize in are relationships, parenting, co parenting and helping others to re frame their narratives, learn to understand generational trauma, break negative cycles and patterns and to live a more mindful, balanced, joyful and meaningful life.