Can you please tell us a bit about yourself?

I have lived in Greenwich on and off since 2011. I love to be active — any form of cardio and pilates are my favorite — and in a past life I was a Peloton instructor. My stepdaughter Noelle is 9, and we love baking, planting flowers, going to the beach, and getting our nails done together. Before becoming ED at GAC, I served as a minister at First Presbyterian Greenwich and at churches in Manhattan and DC. My husband is also a minister at First Pres, and in addition to being the better chef in our house, he makes me laugh every day.

Where do you live in Greenwich and what do you love about Greenwich?

We live in Cos Cob, and what we love most is the strong sense of community. Our neighborhood is full of young families with kids our daughter’s age, and when they are all outside riding their bikes, my husband and I feel like we have fallen into a Norman Rockwell painting. It is also incredibly walkable — Noelle’s school, Le Bistro, Roost, and Flour Water Salt (their pretzel bagels are my favorite) are all just steps from our front door. We have been here a few years now, and every day we are more grateful to call this community home.

What do you love most about being part of the Greenwich community?

There is so much to love about Greenwich. It is a beautiful town with many wonderful people. We are beach people in my family and Tod’s Point is one of our favorite places. We also love how close we are to New York City. I lived in the city for many years, and we still go in often for dinner or a Broadway show.

How would you describe the mission of Greenwich Advanced Counseling in your own words?

At Greenwich Advanced Counseling, our mission is to make the highest quality mental health care accessible to anyone who needs it. There is a real gap right now between insurance that does not work and private pay that is out of reach — even in Greenwich. We exist to close that gap so that anyone navigating anxiety, grief, a struggling marriage, or a child in crisis can walk through our doors and get excellent care without cost standing in the way.

What brought you to your role as Executive Director at Greenwich Advanced Counseling and what continues to drive you in this work?

I came to GAC in July of 2020, in the middle of COVID, when the need for mental health care was at an all-time high. As a minister, I had seen firsthand how important accessible mental health care is to the well-being of a community, and becoming ED of GAC felt like a natural extension of that work — in both settings I am leading an organization whose mission is to help people thrive. What drives me now is the chance to make something foundational to human well-being affordable for everyone who needs it.

What was a pivotal moment in your own life or career that influenced the way you think about wellness and healing?

When my first marriage ended, it felt like my entire world came crashing down. The divorce was the right decision, but still I felt like everything I knew to be true about myself was suddenly called into question. That was over ten years ago, but it was the turning point when I began to ask the hard questions: What did I do to contribute to this relationship ending? What had I not wanted to see or admit until now? And perhaps the most important: Who do I want to be going forward? It was difficult and not always pleasant to answer those questions, but true wellness and healing do not look or feel like a day at the spa. They look like honesty and accountability, and feel like growing pains. But the work is worth it, because the person you become on the other side is so much stronger and more capable of having the life-giving relationships we all desire.

Greenwich Advanced Counseling offers sliding scale fees and financial assistance — why is accessibility such an important part of your mission?

Mental health care is not a luxury, and no one should be priced out of their own healing. And yet that is exactly what happens when the only options are insurance, which is limited by high deductibles, out-of-network providers, and long waitlists, or private pay, which is unaffordable for many families. When one person cannot get the care they need, the effects ripple out — into marriages, into parenting, into how a child shows up at school. Making care accessible is not just an investment in one person; it is an investment in the health of our whole community. We are fortunate that our donors understand this, and their generosity makes it possible for us to say yes to anyone who walks through our doors.

Are there any upcoming workshops, support groups, or events you’re especially excited about?

I am especially excited about the couples intensives we are beginning to offer. Rather than meeting for one hour a week over a series of months, couples work with one of our clinicians in a concentrated block over a couple of days — a weekend or during the week — which allows them to really focus on their marriage or relationship without the usual interruptions of daily life. It is a powerful format, and it is open to any couple, whether they are in a hard season or simply want to invest in their relationship. Interested couples can reach out to our office to learn more.

What’s a success story or moment that still inspires you?

What always moves me is the relief I hear in a client’s voice when we tell them we will figure out a price they can afford. One recent client comes to mind: this person works a low-paying job with no insurance and no car, and because their home offers little privacy, they take public transportation to get to their therapy appointments. Even with insurance, this client could not afford therapy. Because of the generosity of our donors, they are able to see their therapist for less than the cost of a co-pay — and it has made a huge difference in their life.

What are some of the most common challenges you see people seeking counseling for, and what do you wish more people understood about mental health care?

The most common challenges we see are anxiety, relationship struggles, and parenting stress — including the specific weight of raising teens in today’s world. What I wish more people understood is that therapy is not like going to a doctor, getting a diagnosis, and being “fixed” in a few sessions. Therapy is first and foremost a relationship. The process of being truly understood, accepted, and supported by someone over time is what creates the healing. That said, a therapist’s training and experience matter enormously — the relationship is the foundation, but the clinical skill is what makes real change possible. That is exactly why we have built GAC the way we have. Our clinicians are deeply trained and experienced across a wide range of specialties, so when someone walks through our doors, they are not just getting a kind presence — they are getting a skilled one.

If someone has never been to counseling before, how would you describe what a first session might feel like?

Most people feel nervous walking into a first session, which is completely normal. You do not have to know where to start, that is our clinician’s job to help with. Your therapist will ask questions, listen, and give you space to share as much or as little as you are ready to share. There is no judgment, no rush to diagnosis, and no “right” way to do it. More than anything, a first session is a chance to get a feel for your therapist, and if they do not feel like the right fit, that is okay! That is what most people do not realize — you are not locked in. At GAC we do our best to match you with the right person for you, but if it is not a fit, tell us, and we will find the therapist who is.

What do you do to take care of your own mental and emotional well-being?

I try to be very intentional about the voices I let speak into my life. Especially as women, we are bombarded with messages about what we should do and who we should be to “optimize” our lives; the drumbeat of self-improvement never stops. Take creatine! Eat more protein! Lift heavy but still get enough cardio! Do not look your age, but still look natural! And, on top of all of it, be an amazing mother and a hot partner. It is too much. So I try to tune out the noise and focus on what works for me, my life, my family, and what I actually want — as opposed to what I am told I should want.

What’s one piece of wisdom you’d share with parents navigating life’s ups and downs?

Remember that you can only control so much. Yes, there is a lot we can and should shape in our children’s lives, but there is also so much we cannot, and wisdom comes from knowing where that line is and allowing it to shift as our children grow. This is a hard one for me, but when I can accept it, I am a better parent.

Greenwich Faves

We love to support local businesses. What are your fave places when you are in Greenwich to:

Grab coffee: Raphael’s — mostly so I can get a chocolate croissant.
Workout: YWCA. We are big fans of their mission and programs for kids.
Have fun as a family: Tod’s Point.
Go on a date night: Le Penguin.
Go out for a girls night: Honestly, more often than not it is at someone’s home. That is where the best conversations happen.
Go out to dinner as a family: Gingerman.
Get your hair done: Davis Feliz.
Get your nails done: Cozy Nails.
Podcast/Book you would recommend: The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz.