Prior to opening my private practice, I worked as a clinician at SOBA New Jersey as the lead facilitator of their Family Program.

I have years of experience working with individuals and families dealing with substance and alcohol use disorders.

I earned my Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Social Work from Rutgers University, where I also completed the Addiction Counselor Training (ACT) program.

Fun facts about me:

I used to think hard work was all I needed to succeed. I’d fix myself on a path, put my head down and push through the headwinds, believing if I didn’t give up, didn’t stop, I’d get where I wanted to be.

This admirable effort always exhausted me before I got anywhere near my goal. Still, the occasional success rewarded me just enough to keep me in the fight. In time I learned my energy is finite, my determination alone is not enough to get me over the finish line. Spent, I turned around and just let the wind push me along.

Going in the opposite direction usually meant taking a longer path. Even so, the boost from the winds often had me get there in the same amount of time, with the bonus of arriving rested and having enjoyed the trip.

With this newfound energy, I’d sometimes allow myself to veer off in a new direction. Many times, that path turned out even better than I’d hoped my original plan would.

In hindsight, what I hadn’t noticed before when I achieved those earlier successes was the wind was already positioned behind me. What I had attributed solely to hard work was actually a combination of personal energy and an unacknowledged massive power I had no control over but I definitely benefited from. Without both, I never would have gotten as far.

I don’t make that mistake anymore. Now I strive to determine where the tailwinds are blowing and set my path accordingly. I’m a happier person for it.