Therapist Background

I grew up in Switzerland and began my professional life as a teacher, completing my B.A. in Education in 1988. I loved working in a variety of settings, but found myself especially drawn to smaller groups, where I could connect more deeply with each student. Early on, I recognized that every individual carries something unique and valuable—and that insight continues to shape my work today.

In 1992, I moved permanently to the United States. 

Several years later, I felt called to deepen my work with people and returned to graduate school in 1999 to train as a therapist. Along the way, I came to see my multicultural background as a true asset. It allows me to approach each person as their own “cultural system,” with a distinct inner world, history, and way of making meaning. I believe that each of us holds a unique perspective and has the capacity to return to a more authentic expression of Self.

I completed my Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Virginia Tech in 2005 and have been in private practice ever since, working with individuals, couples, families, and fellow therapists.

My approach is integrative and holistic. In 2006, I became a certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant through AFPA, deepening my understanding of the connection between physical health and emotional well-being. I have received additional training in body–mind approaches to healing trauma, including emotional, physical, and sexual trauma. I am trained in EMDR and a certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist (Level III, 2012).

A particular area of interest for me is the brain and nervous system. I am continually inspired by how insights from neuroscience can support more effective, attuned, and lasting therapeutic work.

My professional work is deeply informed by my personal life. I practice the principles of gratitude, self-compassion, and ongoing inner work that I encourage in my clients. I am divorced, happily re-partnered, a survivor of breast cancer, and the mother of two adult children. I have experienced significant loss and grief, and I understand firsthand how life’s challenges can shape us.

Through these experiences, I have come to trust that even in the midst of difficulty, there is potential for growth, expansion, and a deeper sense of aliveness—especially when we meet ourselves with openness and are willing to seek support.