My journey in mental health and child and family advocacy began in 2018 as a crisis counselor with NYC Well, New York’s only free and confidential crisis hotline. This experience opened my eyes to the critical need for comprehensive, trauma-informed support for students in schools, where academic achievement is often prioritized over psychological well-being.

Driven by this realization, I pursued a Master’s in Counseling from Hunter College, which I completed in 2023. My studies focused on Family Systems & Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). I firmly believe everyone encounters personal setbacks and challenges, and having a safe space to navigate these hurdles from a young age is crucial for students to grow into confident and happy adults. My goal is for everyone who attends my sessions to feel safe, respected, and cared for, as I consider it an extraordinary privilege to be allowed into a child’s inner world.

In addition to my professional focus, I am passionate about knowing more than one language. It’s been shown that children exposed to multiple languages have more vital executive functioning skills and are highly creative problem-solvers. Growing up in a trilingual household and spending my childhood summers in various parts of Southern Europe (Croatia, Albania & Montenegro) has given me a deep appreciation for cultural exposure and travel and instilled a love of the outdoors. As the Chinese proverb says, “To learn a language is to have one more window from which to look at the world.” I look forward to adding another “window” by soaking up as much of the German language from the GSB staff & students as possible.

I am delighted to join the GSB community!