My interest in Mental health and psychology really took off when I was a teenager and going through my own mental health journey, trying to make sense of the world and my experiences. As I delved deeper into it, I realized how important it is to have supportive spaces for our well-being. I personally faced a lack of such spaces, which fueled my intention to create environments that foster healing. So I got into the profession and became a therapist!

The exciting thing about my work as a therapist is to be a part of a persons journey where they allow themselves to release their emotional, psychological, and relational pain, gain a deeper understanding of themselves, and embrace a more authentic approach to life. Witnessing this process during therapy sessions is truly fulfilling to me.

In our first session, my aim is to create a welcoming space where you can openly share your story and what led you to seek therapy. We’ll explore how your experiences relate to the world around you, understanding the context that shapes your journey. I want you to feel truly heard, deeply understood, and leave our session with a renewed sense of hope for your healing process.

I want you to come into a session with me bringing in curiosity for your mental health journey because stepping into a world of self-exploration, you’ll have the freedom to dive deep into your thoughts and emotions that sometimes maybe uncomfortable and often difficult to explore. I invite you to share any concerns, questions, or expectations you may have regarding our work together. If something we try doesn’t feel right or isn’t working, it’s important to let me know. Remember, therapy is a process that takes time, so there’s no need to rush healing. Its alright not to have vocabulary for how you feel right now. We’ll work together at a pace that feels comfortable and right for you.

I intend to build a relationship with you that is grounded in a relational lens. I want you to see me as a part of your mental health journey. Creating a space of comfort and safety is crucial, allowing you to voice thoughts and emotions you may have never expressed before. Our therapeutic relationship is a collaborative one, where I acknowledge and bring my own personhood and lived experiences to support your healing. It’s important for us to have that space in our relationship as therapist and client, fostering a sense of connection and understanding.

It’s truly awesome how in the midst of supporting my clients, I often find myself gaining valuable lessons from their journeys. Engaging in conversations about their unique perspectives and experiences have been a powerful reminder of the human capacity for vulnerability, resilience, holding pain, grief and so much more. Their stories have taught me the significance of compassion, forgiveness, and embracing joy. It’s sometimes really a mutual exchange of learnings and growth, where we both contribute to each other’s understanding of the world we are in.

I think that one of my biggest strengths lies in the fact that I know exactly how it feels like to navigate through mental health in an extremely invalidating world. I understand the emotions, the struggles, and the journey of finding one’s place in their own story. With this, I am able to affirm and validate my clients’ experiences in a genuine way. It allows me to provide a space where you feel like someone really gets it. Knowing firsthand what it’s like, helps me connect with my clients on a deeper level and guide them through their own healing and growth.

I read a lot of manga and that’s mainly what I like doing during my free time along side consuming (a lot of Instagram!!) other forms of media. I generally want to engage in something that chills my brain post work, this also includes meeting my chosen family for a meal! I also really love listening to music while I relax and sip on a cup of coffee.

My hope for myself is to include spending my free time playing with a cat-friend in the future whenever I find the opportunity to adopt one.

The approach I take to therapy emphasizes and encourages the recognition that the client defines their identity through multiple intersections and knows best about their concerns. By providing a space for you to tell your stories and experiences, we can discover your unique ways of being and expressing yourself. My aim to facilitate healing by working collaboratively with you through integrating different therapeutic modalities, however I mainly make use of the person centered approach with a queer affirmative, intersectional lens which is all about me tailoring support to your needs and asking you to be an active part in its creation.

I start by sharing my pronouns with people in the first session. By openly discussing my own identity, I want to create a sense of understanding, safety and agency. I actively engage in conversations with the queer community and make sure to stay informed about relevant topics through articles and media. This ongoing learning and dialogue enables me to provide culturally competent support that validates and affirms clients’ unique identities and experiences.