You Don't Have to Carry Everything Alone
The Heart Behind My Work
My passion for supporting women has been shaped by both my professional journey and my own experiences navigating change, motherhood, and life transitions.
Before becoming a therapist, my career was rooted in the publishing world working for newspapers and magazines. I developed a deep appreciation for the stories people carry and the experiences that shape who they become. That perspective continues to influence my work today, allowing me to approach each client with genuine curiosity and compassion and to look beyond the challenges they're facing to understand the whole person.
My counseling path began while I was living overseas as a military spouse. I completed an internship at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, where I trained in an addiction treatment setting and worked with active duty service members navigating substance use, complex life circumstances, and significant transitions.
I have worked in group practices and in-patient settings which broadened my understanding of mental health care and reinforced the importance of providing integrative, individualized support during some of life's most vulnerable moments.
My experiences as a military spouse included frequent moves, adapting to new environments, rebuilding community, and creating a sense of home with anticipated and unexpected changes. While living overseas I became a mother for the first time, far from familiar surroundings and established support systems.
These experiences impacted my understanding of how deeply life transitions can affect our sense of identity, connection, and well-being. They also strengthened my beliefs that we don't have to navigate difficult seasons alone. Even if it is hard to reach out, it is well worth it.
After returning to the United States, I pursued specialized training in Maternal Mental Health with Postpartum Support International (PSI), becoming Perinatal Mental Health Certified (PMH-C). This work brought together my personal experiences, clinical background, and passion for supporting women through motherhood, anxiety, burnout, identity shifts, and the many changes that can reshape how we see ourselves.
I continue to work in private practice, where I find a particular connection to the depth and individuality of one-on-one therapy. Working in private practice has allowed me to build meaningful therapeutic relationships. My passion is supporting women through the complex, often unseen challenges that can accompany adulthood, careers, relationships, motherhood, identity, and other major life transitions.
Why I Created The Counseling Cradle
I have had the honor to develop strong alliances and bonds with many clients, and in order to continue that connection I decided to build an online teletherapy practice. Finding someone you click with is a beautiful thing. I was in private practice in Florida for six years before moving to Virginia in 2021. This way I was able to maintain a presence virtually in Florida, and in Virginia. The Counseling Cradle was born out of the desire and need to address individual care, growth and support in a safe and secure online setting.
A cradle may be known as an infant’s bed or crib, but it’s not all baby talk, it’s also about taking baby steps to get to where you want to be. This particular definition can be connected in therapy when addressing basic needs. Going back to building awareness, breathing, grounding, imagery, meditation, and mindfulness. Sometimes giving yourself permission to rest and be authentic is important to move forward.
A cradle is also known as a “framework on which a ship or boat rests during construction or repair.” Counseling Cradle offers an opportunity to renew and regain, whether it is a new start or perspective. Getting to the root of the concerns and identifying the underlying causes in order to rebuild and solidify that framework. A chance to create a pause and rest, to sink into your own knowing and healing work. This can be achieved through addressing beliefs, feelings, patterns, thoughts, and values.
My Approach is collaborative, person-centered, and grounded in a genuine therapeutic relationship. You are the expert on your own life, and my role is to offer thoughtful guidance, clinical expertise, and tools that help you better understand yourself and create meaningful change.
I combine evidence-based strategies with curiosity, compassion, and flexibility. Rather than relying on one method or assuming the same approach will work for everyone, I draw from several therapeutic approaches and tailor our work to your needs, goals, strengths, experiences, and where you are in life. I may incorporate:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Exploring your values, patterns, and choices so you can respond to life more intentionally and build a life that feels meaningful to you.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Identifying thoughts and behaviors that may be keeping you stuck and developing more helpful ways of responding.
Mindfulness
Learning to notice thoughts, emotions, and reactions without automatically being pulled along by them.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
Using imagery and other techniques to help process distressing experiences, memories, and emotional responses.
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
Clarifying what you want to be different and identifying practical steps that can move you toward it.
Guided Imagery
Using focused imagery as a tool for reflection, emotional processing, relaxation, and change.
The therapy is built around you.
Credentials & Continued Learning
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Virginia and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Florida. I am also a National Certified Counselor (NCC), Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC), and Perinatal Mental Health Certified (PMH-C).
My training in perinatal mental health allows me to support women through the emotional transitions that can accompany pregnancy, postpartum, motherhood, and the many changes that can continue well beyond the early years of parenting. My work with women also extends to broader life transitions, anxiety and overwhelm, burnout, perfectionism, relationships, identity, and healing from difficult experiences.
I am trauma-informed and have training in Basic Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). I also continue to pursue advanced training and continuing education so that my work remains informed by current research, evolving clinical practices, and approaches that can be thoughtfully integrated into therapy.
My hope is that through our work together, you feel truly seen, heard, and supported—while also gaining greater understanding of yourself and practical tools you can carry with you beyond therapy.
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PHOTO Credit: The photographs throughout this site were taken by heather Cosimo during travels and in places that held special meaning and moments. They were chosen as a reminder that healing and growth can take place in many forms. Meaningful Change can begin by creating space, pausing, and viewing things from a different lens.