Building Bridges Between Clinical Practice and Education
I'm a licensed clinical social worker who believes effective mental health support shouldn't require a therapist's office. My work focuses on translating evidence-based therapeutic approaches into programs that schools, educators, and communities can actually use.
The Path Here
I started my career doing traditional clinical work in private practice and community mental health settings. The therapy was effective, but I kept seeing the same problem: we could only reach a tiny fraction of the people who needed support.
That realization led me to schools. If we could equip teachers with evidence-based tools and create programs that reached all students, not just those who made it to a therapist's office, we could prevent a lot of suffering.
The challenge was making clinical approaches accessible to non-clinicians. DBT is incredibly effective, but the standard training assumes you're a mental health professional with years of experience. Teachers needed something different: clear protocols, manageable lesson plans, and confidence they could deliver skills effectively even without a clinical background.
That's what I've spent the last decade building. Programs that maintain clinical integrity while being realistic for busy educators. Curricula grounded in evidence but designed for real-world constraints. Training that respects both the complexity of mental health and the practical realities of schools.
Clinical Background
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), New York
- Master of Social Work, Columbia University
- DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified Clinician
- Mental Health First Aid Instructor
- Trauma-Informed Care Certificate, University of Buffalo
How I Work
Evidence-Based Foundation
Every program starts with proven therapeutic approaches: DBT, CBT, motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care. If it doesn't have research support, I don't adapt it for schools. The clinical integrity has to be there first.
Real-World Testing
Programs are developed in partnership with educators, tested in actual classrooms, and revised based on what actually works. I don't create materials in isolation and hand them off. Implementation feedback shapes every iteration.
Accessible Design
If a teacher can't implement it with 20 minutes of prep time, it won't get used. Materials are clear, scripts are provided, and troubleshooting guidance is built in. Accessibility means considering everyone's constraints.
Free Core Resources
Mental health education shouldn't require a budget. All foundational materials are freely available. Schools can download, adapt, and start implementing immediately. Paid services are for training and consultation, not core curricula.
Cultural Responsiveness
Programs are designed to be adapted for different communities and contexts. What works in a suburban high school might need modification for an urban middle school. Flexibility and cultural humility are built into the design.
Long-Term Support
Implementation doesn't end with training. I provide ongoing consultation, troubleshooting resources, and community forums where educators can share strategies and solve problems together.
Speaking & Presentations
I present regularly on school-based mental health, evidence-based program implementation, and translating clinical practice for educational settings.
National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention
Keynote: "From Therapy Room to Classroom: Implementing DBT Skills in Schools"
American School Counselor Association Conference
Workshop: "AI and Adolescent Mental Health: What Counselors Need to Know"
Council for Exceptional Children Convention
Panel: "Mental Health Interventions for Students with Learning Differences"
National Association of Social Workers Conference
Presentation: "Building Sustainable School-Community Mental Health Partnerships"
Interested in having me speak at your event? I'm available for keynotes, workshops, and panel discussions on school mental health, evidence-based program design, and clinical practice in educational settings.
Inquire About SpeakingMedia & Press
Education Week
"How One LCSW Is Bringing Evidence-Based Mental Health to Thousands of Students"
EdSurge
"Teaching AI Ethics: A Mental Health Perspective on Classroom Technology"
School Counselor Magazine
"DBT in Schools: Lessons from a Decade of Implementation"
The New Social Worker
"From Private Practice to Public Impact: Career Paths in School Mental Health"
Beyond the Work
I live in Brooklyn with my partner and our rescue dog. When I'm not working on mental health programs, I'm usually reading fiction, attempting to keep houseplants alive, or exploring the city's parks.
I'm also an advocate for therapist self-care and sustainable clinical practice. The mental health field has serious burnout problems, and I believe we need to model healthy boundaries and work-life balance if we're going to effectively help others do the same.
I write occasionally about clinical practice, school mental health, and the intersection of technology and adolescent development. Most of my writing focuses on translating research into practical strategies and sharing what I'm learning from educators implementing these programs.
Read My WritingLet's Connect
I'm always interested in connecting with educators, clinicians, and organizations working on school mental health. Whether you want to collaborate on a project, bring a program to your school, or just talk about what you're seeing in your community, reach out.
Get in Touch