The therapist I am today is shaped by several life-changing experiences: persistence, masked neurodivergence, a strong interest in “making people happy,” learning/unlearning/relearning, growth, and failure. Familial experiences, personal mental health struggles, seeing a therapist for the first time, and some bite-sized revelations have all been core contributors on this journey. So, a combination of emotional trauma, a history of people pleasing, being a good listener, heartwarming/heartbreaking epiphanies, and feeling that I could do this professionally is what drove me to become a psychotherapist.

The idea that I get a front-row seat in a stranger’s life who is willingly coming to me and sharing parts of their life that they may not have shared with anyone else blows my mind in the wildest ways possible. I take this job very (lovingly) seriously, and I I am acutely aware of the privilege that comes with it. Being someone’s therapist is one of my greatest joys in life.

The first few sessions can evoke a wide range of emotions in clients. My hope is for the therapeutic space to be a container and witness their experience in its fullest capacity. I like to believe I am a professional cheerleader to all my clients, and I hope I can express that in a way that makes them feel seen, heard, and acknowledged. Most importantly, I aim to have an open conversation about what good therapy looks like, feels like, and hold a gentle, welcoming space for curiosities.

Congratulations on signing up for this (hopefully) life-changing adventure that you’re about to embark on. Your right fit may be your first therapist, or it may take a few trials before you find the right one. It will be scary, may bring up nervousness, definitely can be overwhelming, most importantly, it is something so important that you are doing for yourself, you are choosing YOU. Some days, therapy will bring breakthroughs that feel amazing, and I hope you find moments of laughter with your therapist along the way. Please don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you’d like, and absolutely take up space - it is yours. If there are moments where you find yourself questioning if something is supposed to feel a certain way or not, it is likely a great idea to share that feedback with your therapist. I am excited for you to start this new journey - I am rooting for you.

I tell my clients that this is a collaborative space. A metaphor I use often, “I am your co-passenger, you are in the driver’s seat. We co-create the map, and you have full control of the accelerator, brakes, and steering wheel. We go at a pace that feels safe and doable. At some point, it may be time for me to get off, which is okay because you got this.” I let my clients know that I may be an expert in terms of counseling skills, and they will always remain the experts of their lives. I always welcome feedback of all kinds, especially growth-based. Lastly, my goal is to hold a foundational brave space for them to take therapeutic risks, model kindness towards their selves, and help them recognize their innate capacity to heal and grow.

My greatest learning has been that you can never undermine the importance of humanness in the therapeutic space. Some of my best moments in therapy have been when we’ve connected over an embarrassing moment, pets making guest appearances in online sessions, sitting in silence together comfortably, exchanging important feedback, and celebrating milestones. Undoing aloneness, making clients feel like they matter, and getting to witness some of the most powerful shifts have been highly rewarding.

One of the most valuable strengths that I admire and appreciate is the integrative and relational lens that I utilize in my sessions. In addition to that, my therapy space has been intentionally dynamic, and that provides space for my clients and me to get creative: invite their inner child in the room to hang out with us, when we need to “shake off” the anxiety by doing a silly dance, lay on the ground when the world feels heavy, or make a laundry list of pros and cons together if that helps them arrive at a decision that feels suitable. My ability to go as deep as their parts allow or momentarily stay where they feel ready and comfortable to be has been a key factor in doing some of my best work.

In my free time, I tend to my plant babies, play with my fur babies, and try a new recipe from the internet, occasionally adding new books to my pile of TBR (to-be-read) books. I enjoy playing co-op video games and chasing full moons and new moons for Tarot/Oracle deck readings.

My therapeutic approach is wellness-based, which means we take into account not just your inner world and inner experiences, but also how your environment, biology, familial experiences, and the systems you function in shape our understanding of the symptoms. We make space for all parts of you, lean in with curiosity & compassion, and invite your thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations to show up in a way that feels welcomed in the therapeutic space.

With my Queer &/ Transgender clients, I learned the value of creating an expansive space for them. Therapy did not need to be perfect; it needed to be gentle, accepting, encouraging, affirming, and autonomy-centered. All my clients have had such layered experiences; most days, being able to show up as their authentic selves felt like a win in this space. From practicing chosen names/pronouns to processing traumatic memories, showing up for them with the utmost attention and attunement has been one of my biggest/best/strongest tools. I have, therefore, learned never to undermine the importance of showing up authentically - be it sharing my queer identities/glimpses of my journey with them or putting up a progressive pride flag outside my office with my pronouns. Advocacy also continues in putting my resources towards LGBTQ+ small businesses and artists. Continued education, training, supervision, and doing the inner work are some ways in which I remain accountable to the process.