
I am a clinical social worker with a passionate belief that play has the power to advance a healing process, and that healthy relationships have the power to serve as corrective experiences for individuals who have endured traumatic experiences. Grounded in these beliefs, I guide my clients to recover from interpersonal and sexual trauma by cultivating healthy relationships and attachments in their personal lives.
I have 18 years of experience in clinical and educational settings in the Northern Virginia area. I have provided evidence-informed treatment to bilingual and bi-cultural child, adolescent, and adult survivors of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. In addition, I have worked with children and youth who experienced emotional dysregulation as a result of attachment disruption and losses, children with problem sexual behaviors, and children who have issues of immigration, acculturation, and bi-culturalism.
As a result of my commitment to improved and specialized services to this population, I developed a strong voice and presence as an advocate in the Fairfax County Public School System. I developed and presented trainings on the issue of trauma and its impact on learning, promoting the power of healthy relationships as remedial experiences. I also provided educational guidance on trauma-focused integrated play therapy treatments at state, regional, national and international levels.
I am a Virginia Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor (RPT-S), a Certified Parent Educator in Circle of Security Parenting Groups, and a Certified Theraplay provider. I received my Bachelor's degree in Psychology from George Mason University and my Master's degree in Clinical Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University.
I have received specialized training in several play-based assessment and treatment models for traumatized children and youth including the Extended Play-Based Developmental Assessment ; Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy; Boundary Project Assessment and Treatment Program; Trauma-Focused Integrative Play Therapy, and the Marshack Interactional Method, an assessment protocol used by Theraplay providers. In addition, I have had training in the expressive therapies including art, sand, and play therapy interventions. I have also received specialized training in imagery education from the Center for Healing and Imagery.
I am excited to continue my individual, family and group work while nurturing my passion and commitment to training, education, and the clinical teachings of Dr. Gil.
I am originally from Argentina and have lived in the United States since 1985.