ABOUT ME

Why I Do This Work

From an early age, I was intensely attuned to emotion—my own and others’. I felt things deeply, noticed what others missed, and often found myself drawn to people’s inner worlds. That emotional sensitivity became a source of curiosity: Why do we feel what we feel? What shapes us? How do we heal?

Psychiatry became a way to turn that curiosity into something meaningful. For me, it’s never been just about diagnosis or medication—it’s about relationship, context, and understanding the full picture. I bring both clinical insight and human presence to my work, offering care that’s thoughtful, collaborative, and grounded in the belief that healing happens when we feel seen and understood.

My Training in Adult and Child Psychiatry

I completed nine years of post-graduate medical training: four years of medical school, followed by a three-year residency in Adult Psychiatry and a two-year fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Across this time, I’ve had 15,000 hours of direct clinical care in hospital, emergency, outpatient, and community settings.

  • Bachelors in Neuroscience at the College of William and Mary

  • Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O) from Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine New York

  • Adult Psychiatry Residency at the Medical Center of Aurora Colorado

  • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine

  • American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

  • American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

My Approach

I began my career in traditional psychiatry settings, but over time I saw how often people were reduced to checklists and labels—their complexity overlooked in the rush to stabilize symptoms. I wanted more space. More listening. More care that honored the full picture, who someone is, what they’ve lived through, and what actually feels healing, not just what looks good on paper.

How I Practice Integrative Psychiatry

I created Cedar Integrative Psychiatry to offer thoughtful, trauma-informed, neurodivergent-affirming care. I work with children, teens, and adults navigating anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism, trauma, and burnout — especially those who feel like they’ve tried everything and still don’t feel understood. My approach is grounded in deep listening, nuanced diagnosis, and care that meets you where you are.

Living with ADHD and Supporting Neurodivergent Clients

At 30, I was diagnosed with ADHD. That moment changed how I saw everything, including myself. It helped me make sense of the parts of me I’d long judged: the fog, the emotional intensity, the difficulty following through. It didn’t just bring clarity — it brought relief. That experience deepened my commitment to working with neurodivergent clients, especially those who’ve been masked, missed, or misdiagnosed.

High-Achiever / Gifted Perspective

High-performing but behind the scenes, it’s always a scramble? If you’ve been told you’re too sensitive, too intense, or somehow not trying hard enough, you might be missing the real explanation.

We work with high-achieving adults who have undiagnosed ADHD, autism, or executive function challenges—especially those who’ve been misdiagnosed. Common refrains I hear are:

✓ “I should be able to just do it.”
✓ “Why is this so easy for everyone else?”
✓ “I’m so tired of letting people down.”

It’s not a motivation problem. It’s how your brain is wired.

I Don’t Just Support Neurodivergent Folks — I Think Like One

My lived experience with ADHD shapes how I practice: with empathy for executive dysfunction, attunement to sensory overwhelm, and deep respect for nonlinear thinking. I understand what it means to need flexibility without flakiness, support without condescension, and structure that works with your brain—not against it.

This lens informs everything I do from how I schedule sessions, to how I communicate, to how I tailor treatment plans. My goal is to create a space where your needs aren’t just accommodated—they’re they’re welcomed, anticipated, and held at the center of our work together.

You’re not on this journey alone, and you don’t have to keep trying so hard to hold it all together by yourself. Together, we can explore what healing, connection, and a fulfilling life mean for you.

Ready to begin? Let’s connect and see if we’re a good fit.

I offer a free 15-minute consultation to answer your questions and help you get a feel for how I work. Let’s see what working together could look like!