I am most known for providing Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). I have been doing DBT since 2000 and began learning the model early in my career. I am certified as a DBT therapist by the Linehan-Board of Certification, the official Board of Certification (https://dbt-lbc.org/). This is a noteworthy accomplishment. It’s an extensive process that ensures I provide DBT to fidelity, as designed to the treatment developer, Dr. Marsha Linehan, PhD, and proven by research. In fact, I am passionate about doing DBT to protocol.
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I have been a therapist for 24 years and have had extensive experience with a variety of populations and severity of presentations. I have a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology and am a licensed mental health counselor. I specialize in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT).
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Clinical Training in Specialties
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Becoming trained in DBT is an extensive process which seemed similar to attending graduate school. I attended the “10-day Intensive” by Behavioral Tech, Dr. Linehan’s original training company, with mentors Charlie Swenson and the late Cindy Sanderson. I also attended an Advanced Intensive with Dr. Marsha Linehan in addition to a few other advanced intensive trainings by other DBT experts. I obtained DBT-PE (prolonged exposure) which was designed to treat PTSD with high risk clients.
I’ve attended countless trainings on DBT and various topics related to DBT.
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I learned Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) in graduate school and have obtained professional training post-graduation applying CBT to treat specific diagnoses such as panic disorder. Finally, I received training in Cognitive Restructuring for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (CR-PTSD), which is an alternative to DBT-PE.
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To maintain knowledge of the advancements in DBT, I attend select annual trainings including International Society for the Improvement and Teaching of DBT (ISITDBT), Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy (ABCT), and Yale’s National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder (NEA-BPD) Conference which most often focuses on DBT. I also attend trainings on other clinical treatment approaches and specifics on treating select populations to stay well versed as a clinician.
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Previous Occupational Experience
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Acute Psychiatric Hospital during in graduate school (unique experience: I worked with many adults from the Amish community!)
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After graduation I worked at Devereux in Massachusetts, a residential treatment center and therapeutic day school as a residential clinician. Soon after hire, I was trained in DBT.
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I advanced my career obtaining Director of DBT Services position at The Bridge of Central Massachusetts, Inc. which predominantly provided long term community residential and supportive housing to individuals with significant mental health and developmental challenges. While at The Bridge, I transitioned to solely work for The Bridge Training Institute as the Director of DBT Training and Consultation and provided training and consultation to countless professionals.
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After The Bridge, I developed a 100% virtual DBT Center for adults at Reliant Medical Center and guided the program through the process of program certification, an incredible accomplishment as there's less than 40 certified programs in the world. https://dbt-lbc.org/
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Professional Training
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Besides providing therapy, I train professionals in the field. I have experience training multidisciplinary personnel. In addition to clinicians, I have trained residential counselors, program managers, teachers, nurses, school administrators and other school personnel, behavior analysts, behavior assistants, clinical agency administrators, etc.
I have consulted with numerous facilities, programs, and schools including outpatient, partial hospitals, intensive outpatient programs, long term psychiatric state hospitals, short-term residential dual-diagnosis (mental health & substance use) treatment centers, long term community residential, juvenile justice programs, regional schools, high schools, and college/universities.