How you feel in your body impacts your mental and emotional state, just as your thoughts and feelings can influence your physical health. When you're living with a chronic illness or feeling overwhelmed by life stress, it can be hard to prioritize your own wellbeing. As a clinical health psychologist, I help people navigate this complex mind-body connection. My goal is to provide tools and support that help you feel more balanced, manage life’s challenges, and stay connected to what matters most.

My Professional Background

I earned by Ph.D. at the University of South Florida, where my research and clinical work focused on how psychological factors, like stress and depression, are related to physical health, such as obesity, diabetes, immune function and cardiovascular disease.

After graduation, I returned to my home state of Pennsylvania and began working with Veterans at VA Medical Centers. Collaborating with patients and healthcare providers throughout the hospital system gave me deep insight into a wide range of medical conditions and a deep respect for the many ways illness, pain, and trauma shape people’s lives. I know every person’s experience is different—and I strive to meet each person where they are, supporting them in building a life that feels meaningful and manageable.

Dr. Cathy

My Approach to Therapy

I believe therapy is most effective when it’s personalized — grounded in your values, responsive to your needs, and realistic for the life you're actually living. At the same time, I am committed to using approaches that are backed by research. You deserve care that not only feels supportive and is also based on strategies that have been proven to work.

That’s why I rely on evidence-based practices—therapies that have been studied and shown to be effective for improving both mental and physical health. These approaches are adaptable and flexible and we’ll work together to tailor them to your specific goals and circumstances. They offer practical tools for navigating stress, building resilience, shifting unhelpful patterns, and reconnecting with what matters most.

Some of the approaches I draw from include:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – to help you understand the connection between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – to support psychological flexibility and values-based living

  • Motivational Interviewing – to explore ambivalence and strengthen motivation for change

  • Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy – to help you reconnect with purpose, especially during challenging times

These modalities allow me to help you better understand your experience, develop effective coping tools, and make sustainable, meaningful changes. Whether you’re working toward greater self-care, adjusting to a diagnosis, or trying to reconnect with a sense of purpose, my goal is to help you feel more empowered, more grounded, and more aligned with what matters most.

Our work together will be collaborative, compassionate, and informed by both science and your lived experience.

A Bit About Me

Outside the therapy room, I live in suburban Philadelphia with my husband and two kids. Much of my free time is spent managing practice schedules and cheering from the sidelines at baseball games and gymnastics meets. I prioritize my own wellbeing with good sleep, regular walks, and the occasional slow run or lifting session. I'm a sucker for a well-researched self-help book—and a cozy, feel-good novel when it’s time to unwind.

If you’re ready to talk about what support might look like for you, I’d be honored to connect.