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A Little About Me

I have always felt a strong pull toward a path that allows me to make a meaningful difference in someone’s life. My own experiences have also shaped the kind of therapist I wanted to become and the kind of space I wanted to create for others. I know how important it is to feel heard, understood, and respected when you’re trusting someone with the parts of your life that may not be easy to share.

That perspective has stayed with me throughout my clinical training and experience. I value taking the time to understand the person in front of me—not just what brings you into therapy, but the experiences, relationships, patterns, and circumstances that have shaped where you are today. I believe therapy works best when we can be honest, curious, and collaborative, with room to explore what feels difficult while also recognizing the strengths and insight you already bring with you.

That’s part of what led me to create Studio Twenty Three. I wanted to build a practice where clients could feel that there was room for them—not just their symptoms or the reason they initially reached out, but their experiences, relationships, goals, questions, and the parts of their story that may take time to understand.

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Why Twenty Three

A Practice Built With Intention

Twenty Three is a number that has held personal meaning throughout my life. It has shown up in some of the most meaningful moments and milestones along the way, and when I began imagining my own practice, it felt like the right name for what I wanted to build.

Opening my own practice has been a dream of mine for a long time. I wanted to create a space where therapy could feel personal, intentional, and welcoming—where there is room to slow down, be seen, and do meaningful work without feeling like just another person moving through a system.

Studio Twenty Three is the beginning of that vision. Today, that vision is centered on psychotherapy. Over time, I hope to grow it into a larger wellness space where therapy can exist alongside other forms of care, including yoga, massage, and other wellness services. For now, it begins here—with psychotherapy, and with a room made ready before you arrive.

My Background

Training, Education & Experience

My experience has given me the opportunity to work with people across the lifespan, from children and adolescents to older adults, and in many different settings. Those experiences have shaped how I understand the importance of meeting each person where they are. At Studio Twenty Three, that means drawing from my training and experience while keeping the work individualized, collaborative, and responsive to what each client needs. There isn’t one way to do therapy, and there doesn’t need to be.

  • Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) — Illinois & Wisconsin

    LCPC stands for Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. As an LCPC, I’m a licensed mental health professional who has completed the education, clinical training, examinations, and supervised experience required to provide professional counseling.

  • National Certified Counselor (NCC)

    NCC stands for National Certified Counselor. This national certification recognizes counselors who have met established standards for education, training, and professional practice.

  • Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling — Adler University, summa cum laude

    Bachelor of Science in Psychology, with an emphasis in Pre-Medicine — University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point

  • There isn’t one approach that fits every person or every concern. My work draws from several therapeutic approaches, allowing us to consider what may be most helpful based on what you’re experiencing and what you hope to work toward.

    Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — Looks at the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, helping you notice patterns that may be keeping you stuck and find ways to respond differently.

    Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) — Focuses on building practical skills for managing strong emotions, tolerating distress, navigating conflict, and responding to difficult moments without shutting down, avoiding, or reacting in ways that don’t feel like you.

    Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) — Helps you identify what you want to be different, recognize what is already working, and focus on realistic steps toward where you want to go.

    Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) — Helps you understand how difficult experiences may have shaped the way you see yourself and the world, while identifying and working through beliefs that may be keeping you feeling stuck.

    Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) — Helps you make room for difficult thoughts and feelings, recognize what is and isn’t within your control, and take meaningful steps toward what matters to you.

    Adlerian Therapy — Explores how your experiences, relationships, and beliefs have shaped the way you see yourself and your place in the world, creating space to understand what matters to you and how you want to move forward.

    Gestalt Therapy — Brings attention to what is happening for you in the present moment—your thoughts, emotions, body, and relationships—to help you better understand yourself and make more intentional choices.

    Narrative Therapy — Looks at the stories you’ve developed about yourself and your life, creating space to question beliefs that may feel defining and consider a different way of understanding your experiences.

    Person-Centered Therapy — Centers your experience, perspective, and goals. Therapy becomes a space where you can feel heard without judgment, explore what matters to you, and move at a pace that feels right for you.

  • My clinical experience spans a variety of settings, including brain health clinics, retirement communities, in-home and center-based Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) programs, group-home settings, and private practices. I have facilitated support groups, including a domestic violence support group, overseen the development of a new practice location, and provided clinical supervision to a fellow clinician. Together, these experiences have given me the opportunity to work with individuals across different stages of life and with a wide range of needs and experiences.

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My Approach

Therapy That Meets You Where You Are

I believe therapy is most meaningful when it is collaborative. My role is not to provide all the answers or tell you what you should do. It’s to guide you through the process, offer perspective, and help you make sense of what you’re experiencing.

Not every session will look the same, and that’s okay—that’s part of what makes therapy meaningful. Sometimes we may focus on understanding patterns or experiences that have shaped where you are, work through something difficult, or build practical tools for what you’re experiencing. Other times, you may come in without anything specific to talk about. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing to work on; it can actually be another sign of growth. When things feel more grounded from week to week, there can be space to slow down, reflect, notice patterns, and look a little deeper.

I can’t wave a magic wand, and I would if I could. I’ll meet you in the work—bringing clinical knowledge, curiosity, and guidance while you bring your own perspective and goals. Therapy doesn’t end when the session does; the things we uncover can become part of how you understand and move through your life.

  • Meet You Where You Are

You don’t have to have everything figured out before you come in. We’ll start with where you are and work from there.

  • Individualized

There isn’t one way to do therapy. Our work can change depending on what you’re experiencing, what you need, and what you want to work toward.

  • Guidance, Not Answers

I’ll bring clinical knowledge and perspective without telling you what you should do. The goal is to help you understand, explore, and find what makes sense for you.

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Areas of Support

For Where You Are

There are many reasons you may find yourself considering therapy, and often more than one thing can be happening at once. The areas below reflect some of what we may explore together, but they aren’t meant to define or limit what brings you here. We can begin with what feels most important to you.

  • When your brain won’t slow down, it can be difficult to feel grounded in the present. Worst-case-scenario thinking, fear of the unknown, second-guessing yourself, or anticipating the next problem can create emotional overwhelm and leave you feeling stuck or avoiding what feels too much. At Studio Twenty Three, we can slow those patterns down, explore what’s underneath them, challenge patterns of thinking that may not be serving you, and build tools to help you navigate anxiety with greater awareness and self-trust.

  • Major life changes can bring new responsibilities, grief, uncertainty, or overwhelm. Even positive changes can leave you feeling stuck, disconnected, or unsure. You may be questioning your identity, values, or direction, navigating difficulties with motivation, or finding yourself caught between what you want and what you feel you should want. At Studio Twenty Three, we can explore what has shifted, reconnect with what matters to you, and create realistic movement forward without needing to have the whole answer.

  • Relationships of all kinds can shape how we see ourselves, communicate, and connect with the people in our lives. You may be navigating boundaries, people-pleasing, conflict, anger, difficulty with vulnerability, or feeling disconnected from others. At Studio Twenty Three, we can explore learned patterns and how past experiences may shape your relationships today, while building skills to regulate emotions, navigate difficult conversations, and reconnect when things feel strained.

  • Grief can make it feel like your world has stopped while life around you keeps moving. It can be complicated, nonlinear, and deeply personal, shaping your sense of identity, relationships, and what life looks like now. Loss can take many forms, and grief can surface through transitions and endings we may not always recognize as grief. At Studio Twenty Three, we can make space for what has changed, explore what your loss means to you, and find ways to make meaning as you navigate what life looks like now.

  • Trauma-informed work is not about needing to retell every detail of what happened. It’s about understanding how an experience may have shaped the way you see yourself and the world, including beliefs around safety, trust, power and control, self-esteem, and intimacy. At Studio Twenty Three, we can identify the “stuck points” that may have developed along the way and explore where those learned beliefs came from, how they continue to impact you, and what it might look like to move through them at a pace that feels right for you.

  • Emotions can feel complicated to understand or manage, especially when they become intense or shift quickly. You may notice irritability, anger, feeling emotionally overwhelmed, or having a hard time coming back down once emotions take over. At Studio Twenty Three, we can explore what may be underneath these responses, identify patterns and triggers, and develop skills to better understand, tolerate, and respond to difficult emotions without having to push them away.

  • Staying focused, keeping track of what needs to be done, and following through can feel harder than expected. You may notice moments of difficulty with concentration, time management, planning, procrastination, or getting started and finishing tasks. At Studio Twenty Three, we can explore what may be getting in the way, develop practical strategies, and find systems that support your focus, organization, follow-through, and motivation.

These areas are not limits to what we can explore together. What brings you here may extend beyond what is reflected here, and there is space to begin with what feels most important to you.

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What Sessions Can Look Like

In The Room

Before you step into the room, here’s what to expect when we begin and as our work continues. This section offers a closer look at the first session and intake process, what ongoing sessions may look like, and the practical details of meeting virtually. The goal is to be transparent about the process in hopes you can feel more informed and comfortable getting started.

  • Your first session is an initial assessment and history-gathering session. You don’t need to prepare anything or have the right words ready—I’ll guide you through the process and ask questions to better understand where you’ve been, what brings you here, what’s happening in your life now, and where you’d like to be. We’ll also begin identifying goals for our work together. Because we’re building a fuller picture, this session may involve more questions from me than you’ll experience in ongoing sessions.

  • Ongoing sessions can look different from week to week. If there’s something you’re coming in with, we’ll make space for that first and work through what feels important to you. From there, we may notice patterns, explore thoughts or emotions, work through a difficult relationship or transition, or practice a skill that may help you navigate what you’re experiencing. Sometimes the work may feel more active and focused, while other times there may be more space to slow down and process. We’ll continue to check in on your goals and adjust our work as your needs change.

  • Sessions: Sessions are typically scheduled as weekly, fifty-minute sessions, with frequency adjusted as clinically appropriate and based on your needs.

    Platform: Sessions are held virtually through SimplePractice, a secure HIPAA-compliant electronic health record (EHR) platform designed to support the privacy and security of your care. SimplePractice is also HITRUST certified, and you’ll use their secure Client Portal for forms, communication, billing, and other aspects of your care.

    What You’ll Need: A device with a camera and microphone, a reliable internet connection, and as much privacy as possible during your session.

  • Finding a completely private space at home isn’t always easy, especially when you live with family, a partner, roommates, or children. Headphones are encouraged to help create a more private experience. If privacy is limited and you would prefer not to share something aloud during a session, secure messaging through the Client Portal may also provide another way to communicate. We can also talk through practical ways to make your space feel as comfortable and confidential as possible in session.

Costs & Coverage

Understanding Your Investment

Understanding the financial side of therapy is an important part of deciding next steps. Below, you’ll find information about session fees, insurance coverage, private pay, payment, cancellations, and the Good Faith Estimate so you can make informed decisions before getting started.

  • Private-Pay Session Fee

    Private-pay individual sessions are $185, with the initial session at $200.

  • Insurance

    Studio Twenty Three is currently in-network with Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS). Insurance benefits will be verified prior to your first session. We encourage you to contact your insurance provider directly to better understand your expected out-of-pocket cost.

    Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS):

    BCBS PPO Plans & Blue Choice PPO 

    BCBS Blue High Performance (HPN)

  • Out-of-Network Insurance

    If your insurance plan provides out-of-network mental health benefits, you may be able to submit a superbill to your insurance company for potential reimbursement. We encourage you to contact your insurance provider directly to determine your coverage, reimbursement amount, deductible, and eligibility, as these are determined by your individual insurance plan.

  • Payment

    A credit or debit card will be securely stored on file through the Client Portal, SimplePractice. Payment is collected at the time of each session based on your applicable copay, coinsurance, deductible, or private-pay rate.

Cancellation Policy: Please provide at least 24 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment. Cancellations or missed appointments with less than 24 hours’ notice will incur a $150 cancellation fee.

Good Faith Estimate: If you are uninsured or choose not to use your insurance, you have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate of the expected cost of your care before services begin. The estimate will be based on the services anticipated at the time it is provided. For more information about your rights under the No Surprises Act, visit the CMS No Surprises Act website.

QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE

  • Start by reaching out and sharing a general sense of what brings you to therapy and what you’re looking for. From there, we’ll connect briefly by phone or email to answer any initial questions and determine whether working together feels like a good fit. If you decide to move forward, you’ll receive the necessary paperwork through the secure Client Portal and we will schedule our initial session. If you plan to use insurance, verification will be completed prior to our initial session.

  • Studio Twenty Three does not offer free consultation sessions. However, before your first session, I will personally connect with you to get a brief sense of what brings you to therapy, what you’re looking for, and answer any initial questions you may have. This is an opportunity to determine whether working together feels like a good fit. If you decide to move forward, you’ll complete the necessary intake forms and documentation through the secure Client Portal before your first session. This helps ensure I have the information needed to understand your needs and make our time together as intentional and productive as possible. Your first scheduled appointment is the initial assessment session.

  • Your first scheduled session is an initial assessment and an important part of beginning our work together. You don’t need to prepare — I’ll guide the conversation and make space for you to share at your own pace. We’ll talk about your history, what brings you to therapy now, what you’ve been experiencing, and where you’d like to be. We’ll also begin identifying goals and gathering information that will help shape our work together moving forward.

  • Your Client Portal is accessed through SimplePractice, a secure HIPAA-compliant electronic health record (EHR) platform designed to support the privacy and security of your care. SimplePractice is also HITRUST certified, and you’ll use their secure Client Portal for forms, communication, billing, and other aspects of your care.

    Through the portal, you’ll complete and electronically sign intake forms and documents, view and manage billing information and payment history, join secure telehealth sessions, access appointment information, and cancel appointments when needed.

    The portal also provides a secure way to communicate with me about your care, helping keep communication related to your therapy within a protected space. You’ll receive an email invitation to set up your Client Portal account as part of getting started, and I’ll guide you through what you need to complete before we begin. If you have questions about setting up or navigating the portal, I’m happy to help.

  • Yes. Research supports virtual therapy as an effective way to engage in meaningful therapeutic work, with studies finding comparable outcomes to in-person therapy for certain approaches. Virtual therapy also offers flexibility and access without the commute, making consistent care possible from wherever you are in Illinois or Wisconsin. Sessions take place through a secure telehealth platform, with space to talk, process, reflect, and work toward your goals.

  • There isn’t one timeline or schedule for therapy, and you don’t need to know how long you’ll need before you begin. Sessions are typically scheduled weekly, especially when beginning therapy, to create consistency and momentum. Over time, the frequency and length of therapy may change based on what brings you in, your goals, the progress you’re making, and what feels clinically appropriate. We’ll continue checking in on your needs and goals throughout our work and make adjustments as things change.

  • What you share in therapy is confidential, and protecting your privacy is an important part of creating a space where you can feel comfortable being open and honest. There are limited exceptions to confidentiality required by law, including certain safety concerns, situations involving abuse or neglect, and legal requirements. You’ll have an opportunity to review these details as part of the consent process and through the information provided in your Client Portal before we begin.

  • Studio Twenty Three provides outpatient virtual psychotherapy and is not intended to serve as a substitute for crisis services, emergency care, or a higher level of treatment when those services are needed. If your needs change, or we determine that additional support would be more appropriate, we can talk through those options together. This may include coordinating with other providers, connecting you with additional resources, or discussing a higher level of care. If you are experiencing an immediate emergency, please call 911 or 988, or head to your nearest emergency department.

  • You don’t need to arrive with the right words or a perfectly defined goal. Sometimes you simply know that something feels off, difficult, or worth exploring. Wherever you’re starting from, we can begin there. My role is to help guide the process, make sense of what brings you in, and work together toward what feels meaningful to you.

There’s Room to Begin Here

If what you’ve read here feels like it could be a good fit, you’re welcome to reach out and share a little about what brings you to therapy. We can begin there and take the next steps together.

Let’s Begin