For Providers
Specialty psychological care for patients and loved ones living with neurological illness
I provide palliative care therapy for patients and loved ones living with serious and progressive neurological illness, grounded in nearly two decades of experience as a palliative care psychologist.
My practice offers specialized psychological care informed by the connections among neurological illness, emotional life, relationships, and medical care. This care can begin at any stage and flexibly evolve as patients and families encounter changing needs, challenges, decisions, and transitions over time.
I welcome referrals and collaboration with clinicians and healthcare teams.
When to Refer
When Palliative Psychology may be the right fit
People living with neurological illness may benefit from different types of psychological care depending on their symptoms, how closely their needs connect to the illness and medical care, and the level of support required.
GENERAL PSYCHOLOGICAL CARE
When specialized expertise in serious or neurological illness is not needed.
Depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, and relationship concerns may be well served by general psychological care when they are not closely tied to neurological symptoms, illness progression, caregiving, or medical decision-making.
PALLIATIVE PSYCHOLOGY CARE
When psychological concerns are closely connected to the medical, relational, and caregiving realities of neurological illness.
Referral considerations may include:
Complex or overlapping emotional and neurological symptoms
Changes in identity, function, independence, roles, or relationships
Caregiver, couple, or family distress
Neurobehavioral or neuropsychiatric symptoms affecting patients and families
Trauma affecting illness adaptation, symptoms, or medical care
Repeated losses, transitions, or changing care needs
Difficult medical decisions, advance care planning, or care transitions
Desire for hastened death or Medical Aid in Dying
URGENT, INTENSIVE, OR OTHER SPECIALIZED CARE
When immediate safety, a higher level of care, or formal assessment is the primary need.
This may include imminent safety concerns, need for intensive behavioral health treatment, substance withdrawal, specialized eating disorder treatment, capacity evaluation, or neuropsychological assessment.
NOT SURE WHERE TO REFER?
Clinical needs do not always fit neatly into one category. I welcome providers to reach out when unsure whether palliative psychology is the right resource for a patient or family.
A Distinctive Model of Care
Why Palliative Psychology?
AN INTEGRATIVE CLINICAL LENS
Working With the Interconnected Realities of Neurological Illness
Neurological illness affects far more than physical symptoms — emotional well-being, identity, relationships, cognition, communication, medical care, and family systems continually influence one another across the course of illness. Meaningful psychological care requires working with these realities together, rather than in isolation.
CARE THAT ADAPTS TO CHANGING NEEDS
Psychological Care That Can Grow, Pause, and Return
Neurological illness is rarely static, and psychological needs change over time. Patients may begin therapy at any stage, return during periods of progression or transition, or seek support around specific challenges or decisions — with care continuing, pausing, and resuming as circumstances change.
A FLEXIBLE THERAPEUTIC FRAME
Psychological Care That Adapts to the People and Relationships Involved
Neurological illness is experienced within relationships. Depending on clinical needs and goals, therapy may focus on the patient or loved one seeking care, while flexibly involving partners or family members when helpful.
Earlier referral
Earlier Referral Creates Opportunities for Better Care
Patients and families do not need to be in crisis or meet criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis to benefit from palliative psychology.
Earlier referral creates the opportunity to begin psychological care while challenges are still emerging, before they become increasingly intertwined and more difficult than they need to be for patients and families. It can help people find steadier footing as illness changes, while allowing a therapeutic relationship to become established before periods of greater complexity, difficult decisions, or crisis arise.
The best time to establish a therapeutic relationship is often before it is urgently needed.
How to refer
Referring to My Practice Is Simple
1. SHARE MY INFORMATION
Patients and families may contact me directly or schedule a free 20-minute phone consultation to learn more and determine fit.
2. WE HAVE A BRIEF PHONE CONVERSATION
I speak directly with the patient, loved one, or family member seeking care to understand what they're navigating, answer questions, and explore fit.
3. WE DETERMINE NEXT STEPS
If we move forward, therapy is tailored to the needs and goals of the person or family. With patient permission, I communicate with referring clinicians and healthcare teams when doing so would meaningfully support care — particularly around overlapping symptoms, complex decisions, or care transitions. If another resource would better meet their needs, I help clarify next steps.
Professional Consultation and Education
Clinicians, Therapists, and Healthcare Teams
In addition to palliative care therapy, I offer consultation and education for healthcare professionals, therapists, interdisciplinary teams, and organizations seeking to strengthen psychological care for people living with neurological illness.
I welcome opportunities for:
Interdisciplinary case consultation and case conferences
Team meetings and in-service education
Grand rounds, invited lectures, and conference presentations
Workshops and interdisciplinary training
Presentations draw from clinical work, teaching, and scholarship in:
Reflective practice and psychology of caring, with reflections on the therapeutic relationship, trauma-informed care, clinician well-being, emotional responses to clinical work, sustaining compassionate, relational practice, and the human experience of caring for people living with serious illness.
Palliative psychology and neuropalliative care, informed by trauma-informed and relational approaches to psychotherapy
Condition-specific care for Parkinson's disease, FND, ALS, Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body and frontotemporal dementia, Huntington's disease, epilepsy, acquired brain injury, and other neurological illnesses
Clinical challenges across the illness course — identity, relationships, caregiving, overlapping symptoms, communication, advance care planning, and MAiD
Reflective practice and the psychology of caring, including clinician well-being and sustaining compassionate practice
Presentations can be adapted to different audiences and clinical settings.
Continue the conversation.
Receive occasional updates when I publish new articles, educational resources, and clinical reflections on palliative psychology, neurological illness, and the psychology of caring.