I have been with NCG since August 2006 and have a Bachelor's in Psychology, a Master's in Social Work, and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I love meeting people and learning about their interests and perspectives. I believe everyone is motivated towards something, and it's our job to guide and support them in finding what that something is. Using pop culture to connect with others has been an effective way for me to build common ground, trust, and provides insight into another person's world. When I'm not at the office, I'm spending time with my family, reading comic books, watching movies and working on my Funko Pop collection (my collection is featured in the 2021 Guinness World Record Book for being the world's largest Funko Pop collection). 

I have worked for NCG since 2017 as an in-home counselor, and in 2018 joined the Functional Family Therapy (FFT) Program.  I am currently the FFT clinical supervisor and ensure the therapists on my team provide families receiving FFT services the highest quality of care. 

I graduated from Delaware State University in 2005 with a Bachelor’s in Social Work and from Walden University in 2015 with a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.  I am currently a Resident in Counseling working towards licensure.  I have 18 years experience in helping individuals, couples and families with mental health issues and many symptoms related to life transitions, losses, and personal growth.  My past work includes high school counselor, hospital social worker on a psychiatric unit, therapeutic day treatment counselor, family preservation counselor, couple’s counselor, group substance use counselor with adolescents, and individual counseling with ages 5-80 years old.  

I generally adhere to a humanistic approach where I provide an atmosphere of support, empathy, and trust that allows an individual to share their feelings without fear of judgement.  I focus on an individual’s positive attributes and provide a safe space for individuals to explore their strengths and realize they have the strength to make the changes needed to live a healthy life.  I have experienced military life as a child and currently as a military spouse.  Military life has given me the opportunity to explore the world, experience different cultures, and meet amazing lifelong friends from all over the world.  I enjoy spending time with my husband and daughter (when she is home from college), whether we are home or off on some adventure.  I love animals, antiquing, painting, the beach, and thrill rides.

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I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a Master's degree in clinical social work from the University of Houston in Texas, and a Bachelor's in social work with a minor in psychology from Longwood University in Virginia. 

While working toward my degrees, I completed a variety of internships, most frequently working with adolescents in the mental health setting.  These included a placement at the Loudoun County Youth Shelter in Virginia and a placement working in an Intensive Outpatient/Partial Hospitalization Program for adolescents with mental health disorders and dual diagnosis in Texas.  While in graduate school, I worked as a policy analyst, reviewing mental health legislation and writing recommendations for state legislators as part of a nonpartisan caucus. 

After earning my Master's, I relocated to Northern Virginia and worked as a crisis stabilization counselor at ACCESS, a two-week Crisis Stabilization Unit, working with adults in acute mental health crises with diagnoses ranging from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, to depression and severe anxiety.  I began working with National Counseling Group as a community-based counselor in 2016, primarily with behaviorally challenged youth that were at risk of out-of-home placement.  I later joined the CR2 team and became a supervisor for community-based counselors.  I have been a supervisor with NCG since May 2019. 

I have experience working with children, adolescents, and adults with a variety of mood and behavioral disorders and challenges, as well as working with families on parent education and effective communication skills.  I'm experienced in crisis de-escalation and use an integrative approach, which allows me to tailor services to individuals and families based on their needs and preferences. 

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I have a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling Psychology from State University of New York at Albany, as well as a Master of Art in General Psychology from University of Marvdasht.  I lived in Iran and have been fortunate enough to travel to many countries around the world.  My travels have given me opportunities to get to know and experience different cultures and lives.  As a result, I relate well to others, which has helped me to better understand and achieve the maximum potential for those I work with. 

Prior to being the Clinical Supervisor, I was a community-based counselor and provided direct services to clients in the following programs:  Intensive In-Home (IIH & HBC), Therapeutic Day Treatment (TDT), Mental Health Skills Building (MHSS), Crisis Stabilization, Outpatient, and Parent Partnership Programs.  I am committed to improving lives by allowing individuals, families, and professionals to achieve their goals and experience long-lasting and meaningful results.