OUR TEAM

It’s important for everyone to have access to a space where they can show up exactly as they are within their individual and unique experiences. Coming from a culture where mental health needs aren’t recognized as important, it has been my mission entering the counseling field to de-stigmatize self-development through mental health counseling for all cultures and backgrounds.

Whether cultural or religious judgement has been placed on you for seeking mental health services, it is my mission to provide a compassionate space where you are able to explore your cultural upbringing. I want to help you find and create new meaning, as well as shed old narratives connected to your cultural background that no longer serve you. I greatly look forward to celebrating you and your strengths and resilience, that is tied into your cultural heritage.

I’m very proud of my Kosovar-Albanian roots and I know firsthand the importance of staying connected to one’s culture. Coming to America to escape a war in my birth country of Kosovo at age 6, my family and I had the experience that all immigrants do upon entering a country where language barriers are present and cultural integration is experienced. Culture is an important part of human existence and I believe it is important that we celebrate the beauty in diverse racial and cultural backgrounds. 

Growing up in America with an upbringing that prioritized maintaining cultural norms as well keeping the spoken language at home I experienced many challenges. It felt like I lived two separate identities as I adjusted to a new country. I was one way when I was at home and also had to mold and shape myself a certain way when around my friends at school. There were many times I felt out of place and couldn’t relate to friends at school. It was during this time I recognized how important it is to feel connected to a community of my cultural heritage.

A personal goal for me as I become a more seasoned counselor is to eventually work with Albanian communities in the US as a way to feel connected to my Albanian heritage and support war survivors as well as Albanians maneuvering cultural challenges as Albanian-Americans.

My passion as a licensed therapist is working with adult individuals who are ready to dive into a journey of self-exploration and discovery. I love working with clients who have experienced various types of traumas, including early childhood trauma, childhood neglect, abandonment, and parentification.

I also specialize in working with addiction and recovery. In my work with you we would dive into early childhood experiences, inner child work, processing addiction experiences, anxiety, and depression management, and working through unresolved grief. I strongly feel that it can be life changing when you start to understand how your life experiences can impact your present mental and physical functions. 

We will work together to build a greater sense of empowerment, self-compassion, self-awareness through learning and implementing new tools in your therapy work to create a life that feels balanced and congruent with what feels good for you. I greatly look forward to working closely with you to explore a new understanding of yourself and learn to develop a new appreciation of who you are.

I am intentional in creating a space where you as the client feel supported and validated in a space that feels safe and nonjudgmental. I offer a warm and gentle approach where your strengths will be highlighted and where I will strive to support and empower you in creating positive changes that align with your life goals. I will work hard to build a trusting relationship with you that encompasses genuine care, support, validation, and positivity.

Based on individual needs, I utilize and reference a wide range of therapy models that include but are not limited to: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy 

(CBT); Emotion Regulation skill-building from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT); Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT); Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT); and Motivational Interviewing (MI).

I also utilize a trauma-informed approach supporting individuals working through trauma processing. I utilize psycho-education and apply neuro-counseling with these individuals to empower them with the knowledge of physical and mental health functions. My counseling educational background is both multicultural and social-justice driven and I feel it is important that all counselors are considerate of different cultural experiences that are present.