About

Mountain Trail Counseling Services

During the summer of 2023, I began making plans to open my own private practice. Like many therapists, I struggled with what to name my practice--I mulled over variations of my name, nature references, and even music terms. That summer, my family went camping in Shenandoah National Park. My son and I spent a day taking a 10 mile hike on the Appalachian Trail and climbed to the highest point in the park--Hawksbill Overlook.

During this hike, we enjoyed beautiful overlooks of the mountains and Shenandoah Valley. My son commented on how we could see mountains and wilderness for miles. We had a discussion about how easily someone could become lost in the park if they left the trail. This conversation led me to think about how one's therapy journey can be like hiking through the mountains--there are times where you feel you are walking uphill for miles, while other times, you enjoy a downhill, easy pace. The views can be stunning and make you feel connected to the earth, but the wilderness can also be a dangerous place if you're ill-prepared or stray from the path. This imagery made me think of how my own life and the lives of my clients mirrored this natural phenomenon--life is full of ups and down, painful trials and self doubt. However, if we follow the path and work through these challenges, we can be rewarded with spectacular views and a sense of meaning. When we returned home from this camping trip, Mountail Trail Counseling Services began to take shape.

Experience

I began my career working as a clinician in an inpatient psychiatric unit on the northside of Chicago. After moving to Pittsburgh, I spent some time working for an outpatient drug and alcohol treatment program and then transitioned to the community mental health setting. I spent over eight years working at Pittsburgh Mercy’s Extended Acute Care program, assisting individuals transitioning from hospitalization back to independent living. I then began working in private practice and have since enjoyed serving a wide variety of individuals and couples in the outpatient setting.

Therapeutic Approach

I practice from an Existential and Humanistic perspective and utilize the Gottman Institute approach for couples therapy. I also incorporate positive psychology, non-violent communication, solution-focused therapy, and cognitive behavioral interventions into my work. My approach is client-centered, so I customize treatment depending on your needs. If you benefit more from verbal processing and problem solving, therapy will be more talk focused. If you are someone who prefers having homework and weekly goals, we will make space for these activities.

Me As An Individual

I am the mother of two children and have been married for over 21 years. I understand the challenges of balancing work, family, and personal life, as well as the trials that come with parenting and maintaining long term relationships. I love animals and have a pet dog, cat, and praying mantis. I'm an avid hiker and enjoy playing the violin, growing orchids, and reading novels.

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