“My priority is to create a warm and welcoming environment where clients feel safe and trust that their concerns are treated with the utmost care.”

Therapy

I approach my work with a warm and nonjudgmental attitude, prioritizing empathy and mutual respect. My primary focus is on building a strong therapeutic relationship with my clients, one that validates, emphasizes, and empowers them throughout their journey. I assist clients in exploring and understanding any factors that might be contributing to the challenges they are experiencing. My support extends to helping clients manage difficult emotions, breaking free from unhelpful thought patterns, and equipping them with practical tools to enhance their resilience and navigate the obstacles that life presents. My ultimate goal is to guide clients towards healing and personal growth.

Parent support and Engagement

When working with children and adolescents, I adopt an approach that involves collaborating with parents to gain a deeper understanding of their children and provide support at home that complements the work we do in therapy and school supports. I firmly believe that a strong support system and a partnership between parents and professionals are crucial for the success of young individuals.

Parental support includes psychoeducation and parent-centered sessions, which are designed to assist in implementing skills and strategies to address behavioral, social-emotional, and academic concerns. Throughout the therapeutic process, I actively involve caregivers while maintaining strict confidentiality regarding what your child or adolescent shares during our sessions.

My priority is to create a warm and welcoming environment where clients feel safe and trust that their concerns are treated with the utmost care. My ultimate goal is to equip caregivers with resources and strategies that extend beyond our therapy sessions, empowering them to continue nurturing connection, growth, and resilience in their children.

Assessments/Evaluations

I am a dedicated professional with expertise in psychoeducational and neuropsychological assessments, conducted in both English and Spanish. My approach to assessments is rooted in an ecological perspective, where I consider the individual's unique characteristics, their family dynamics, school environment, and community influences to gain a comprehensive understanding of their strengths and challenges.

I place a strong emphasis on cultural sensitivity and actively collaborate with families to ensure that the assessments are accurate and reliable. My goal is to provide valuable insights into an individual's cognitive abilities and daily functioning, which can greatly benefit the individual, their families, and their educational support team in tailoring effective interventions and support plans.

My background as a School Psychologist, combined with my experience conducting neuropsychological evaluations in clinical settings, enables me to perform thorough assessments. These assessments help identify an individual's strengths, areas of difficulty, specific needs, and opportunities for academic and personal growth.

I am well-versed in the educational system and enjoy working closely with educators, participating in IEP/504 meetings, and fostering collaborative efforts to ensure that each student receives the necessary support and resources to achieve academic and personal success.

Background

I hold a Ph.D. in School Psychology from Loyola University Chicago and have diverse experience in Chicagoland schools, community programs, and clinical settings like the Pediatric Developmental Center at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. Currently, I'm a post-doctoral fellow on my path to becoming a licensed Clinical Psychologist. I am currently a post-doctoral fellow working toward licensure as a Clinical Psychologist. I find joy in supporting families, children, and educators to collaboratively work with each other to meet shared goals. I strive to make a positive impact on everyone I work with. Within my role at FPS, I provide counseling services, conduct assessments, and provide school-based consultation.