Sheila grew up in a large family on Long Island, where she learned the importance of helping one another. “My parents encouraged us to consider the needs of the whole family.” This mindset helped Sheila develop the ability to see things from another person’s perspective. Years later as a student at California State University, Fullerton, this early lesson would guide her course of studies.

“I started as a business major but knew it wasn’t for me,” she recalls. An undergraduate course in psychology was a turning point for her. “I discovered that this was what I was meant to do.” After earning her bachelor’s, she returned to New York where she completed her Master of Social Work degree from Fordham University.

Through her twenty-plus-year career in mental health, Sheila has worked in clinical and private settings. In addition to helping adults with a wide range of issues including anxiety, depression, trauma, relational and substance-abuse-related troubles, she has helped many patients deal with grief.

She uses a variety of therapeutic approaches when working with patients. “Most individuals struggle today due to negative thoughts patterns that guide their choices and behaviors. Therapy is about examining and redefining core beliefs so patients can make better, more informed decisions about how they live their lives today.”

Raising her own family on Long Island these days, Sheila enjoys sharing her love of baking, biking, books, and Broadway shows, with her husband and daughters.