I came to the United States in the early 90’s to pursue my post-secondary education. While my upbringing in Italy was largely monocultural, the journey of immigrating to the United States placed me in the position to experience a multitude of points of view. I could have never suspected how enriching this would be, both personally and professionally.

I began my undergraduate career equally passionate in philosophy and psychology; what ultimately steered me towards clinical training was my passion for action and change, and not simply understanding. This deep desire to make a difference in others’ lives led directly to my commitment to social justice work, as it became clear that too often mental health concerns are triggered by social inequalities and injustice. 

My clinical and academic careers have been rooted in two complementary mottos: 

• “Justice for Healing”, as healing requires justice

• “Healing for Justice”, as healing empowers and creates opportunities for justice

My academic and advocacy work have been focused on the first; my clinical work on the second.

What I have learned in the process is that social justice work is never a sprint, always a marathon. This is where self-care becomes crucial to sustainable effort. In addition to my (ever shifting) mindfulness practice and to cultivating community, I spend time moving in any way that brings joy to my life (from hiking to yoga and functional training). 

Fundamentally, I try to never preach what I don’t practice!