During my bachelor’s in English Literature, I learned to “read” texts deeply-considering the author’s worldview, historical context, and the lives of characters. This process gave me profound insights into the human mind and social structures. However, instead of pursuing theoretical work in literature, I sought a path grounded in practice, which led me to psychology.

Psychology offered an interdisciplinary approach, allowing me to integrate sociology, anthropology, history, and more. It also became a way for me to explore my own worldview, tracing intergenerational hurt as a grandchild of colonization and partition survivors, while connecting it to my personal sense of loss and recurring patterns. Becoming a counselor enables me to make sense of these layers and connect with others through narratives, helping them embark on their own journeys of self-discovery.

Therapy is often perceived as heavy work, reduced to addressing trauma and abuse. However, I believe it is far more expansive and nuanced. Each therapist develops their own evolving definition of what this work entails, and that ongoing evolution is what I love about it. Counseling offers a unique space for both personal and professional growth, deeply intertwined.

I look forward to every session with my clients-witnessing how they navigate life, exchanging perspectives, and sharing moments that range from sitting with life’s heaviest chapters to laughing at our mistakes and how far we’ve come. What happens in the therapy room feels like a microcosm of life itself, and working with these human stories, with all their complexities and resilience, keeps me deeply engaged in this work.

I place great emphasis on rapport-building in the first session, creating a safe and welcoming space for clients to share any chapter of their life they feel ready to explore. My focus is on active listening, being fully present, and understanding not just the challenges they bring but also the joys and interests that make them unique-whether it’s spending time in nature, writing, reading, or watching movies. These “small” details are what make us human and help build connections beyond the surface.

The first session is about easing into the process, offering a space where they feel seen and heard without pressure or judgment. I remain open to their doubts, questions, or hesitations and use context-sensitive self-disclosure when appropriate to help equalize the power dynamic in the room. Ultimately, I hope clients leave their first session with a sense of comfort, trust, and hope for what the therapeutic journey can offer.

Sometimes, we struggle to make sense of ourselves, our relationships, and who we are within them. This can stem from a variety of factors shaping our lives and experiences. Therapy offers a space to pause, reflect, and explore your own story-like sitting with an unfinished book. It gives you the opportunity to edit, rewrite, or simply read it with more clarity and compassion.

Therapy isn’t about “fixing” you; it’s about equipping you with tools and insights that may already be within you but aren’t yet fully visible. Building a consistent and trusting relationship with a therapist can also become a blueprint for other relationships. It helps you observe patterns in how you communicate, respond to conflicts, and express your needs to maintain meaningful connections. Seeking counseling is a step toward understanding yourself more deeply and creating a life that feels authentic and fulfilling.

I aim to build a relationship at a pace that feels comfortable for the client, starting with small, often overlooked connections-like a shared love for nature-that can help us bond on a human level. I want clients to see me as a person, not just a therapist, and to avoid placing me on a pedestal, as that only creates an unnecessary power imbalance. Sometimes, this requires context-sensitive self-disclosure on my part to help normalize the relationship.

As rapport deepens, I believe it fosters trust, genuine connection, and care, gradually creating a safe and comfortable space where both of us can be fully present and engaged. This sense of safety and openness makes the therapeutic process more collaborative, allowing any misunderstandings to be addressed openly, without defensiveness or feelings of insecurity.

I’ve learned that every client has a curious, compassionate, and creative self, which may sometimes be hidden or hindered by life’s challenges. Yet, this core self is what makes them human and enables them to connect with others on their own terms. Even in their most difficult times, I am constantly amazed by their ability to show up for themselves. This resilience is what inspires me to continue doing this work.

I’ve also learned that therapy is uniquely tailored to each client. While you may draw from one or several approaches, how they unfold depends on the rapport and relationship you build with each individual.

I believe I put genuine effort into building rapport, which forms the foundation of the therapeutic relationship. I also make it a point to understand what activities my clients enjoy or excel at-whether it’s expressive arts, writing, or reading-and incorporate these into our work together.

I enjoy using pop-culture references at the right moments to share light-hearted moments with my clients, making the therapeutic space more relatable and approachable.

What I value most is my intersectional lens, which allows me to understand worldviews different from my own without losing sight of my perspective or falling into defensiveness. By demonstrating openness to learn, even when our socio-cultural backgrounds differ, I encourage clients to explore new perspectives and build mutual respect.

I enjoy reading feminist and anti-oppressive literature, doodling, writing poetry when inspiration strikes, and watching indie films.

I work within a systemic framework, recognizing that our mental health is deeply influenced by both internal and external factors, including social forces and power structures. This approach explores the beliefs and social discourses that shape our identities, and I prioritize understanding how these systems impact my clients’ lives and their ability to cope. I also emphasize creating an equal partnership in the therapy room, ensuring that power dynamics are balanced and the client has the necessary resources and support to collaborate effectively.

The core approach I follow is Internal Family Systems (IFS), which believes that every person has a core self-creative, courageous, curious, and compassionate. Life experiences may hide or distort this self, but with the right direction and nudge from the therapist, they can access it more often and empathetically understand different facets of their personality.

Additionally, I utilize art-based approaches to therapy, including painting, doodling, writing, and poetry-whichever medium the client feels most comfortable with. These creative approaches facilitate self-expression and foster self-reflection, helping clients explore their emotions and experiences in a unique and meaningful way.

I identify as polyamorous and pansexual, but that doesn’t exempt me from the responsibility of being a better ally and therapist-especially when it comes to standing up for other marginalized queer identities and staying informed about their experiences, which may differ from my own.

Being a queer-affirmative therapist involves engaging in work outside the therapy room, for example, actively engaging in the work of learning and sharing knowledge (particularly with cis-het people) about diverse ways of being, and challenging societal constructs of gender and sexuality, including the notion that cis-het monogamous identities are the norm.

It also involves recognizing the experiences, needs, and ongoing discrimination faced by queer individuals, while confronting the social pathologization of queerness. Furthermore, it requires addressing the colonial legacy of transphobia and homophobia and acknowledging how these forces continue to manifest in our daily lives.