Let’s start with something easy. Can you tell us a little about your professional background and areas of focus?

I am a Licensed Psychotherapist in private practice in New York. I have a graduate degree in Social Work from Fordham University where I focused on clinical practice. Afterward, I obtained postgraduate training in Psychodynamic Clinical Practice at the National Institute for the Psychotherapies in New York City.

Prior to private practice, I gained experience working in a number of settings: mental health clinic, substance abuse treatment center, school, supportive housing, medical hospital and psychiatric hospital.

As a result, my clinical practice is informed by working with a wide variety of people. I make it a priority to see my clients as whole people, not just a list of symptoms or behaviors from a textbook. That means considering every aspect of my client’s identity - culture, socioeconomic status, race, gender, sexuality, religion/spirituality, etc.

How would you describe your approach to therapy?

My approach is to try to understand my patient and to try to help them understand themselves. The most important things to me are being human and being curious. I try to foster reflectiveness, exploration and openness. I pay attention closely to what is happening in the present moment and in the therapeutic relationship.

What would your patients say about you?

I think they'd say that I'm respectful, direct and easy to talk to.

How did you become interested in working with psychedelics including ketamine?

I started reading about psychedelic assisted therapy and was impressed by the ways that psychedelics can open doors into the mind and body that otherwise tend to stay closed.

What excites you most about the future of psychedelics?

Psychedelic treatment has just begun to enter the mainstream and the field has just begun to scratch the surface of what is possible. I am most excited about psychedelics becoming more accessible and affordable to people.

Enough about work! Let’s try some rapid fire questions;

• First, Where do you live? - Westchester County, New York
• What's a perfect afternoon? - Going for a long walk in a new place.
• Favorite food? Pizza/Pasta - Tacos Don Juan in Mexico City
• Describe yourself in two words. - I don't believe two words are adequate to describe any person. A fundamental part of my work is to give my patients the chance to get to know all the parts of themselves as deeply as possible.