Currently I am only accepting new clients who are trans. I am a trans and queer Licensed Clinical Social Worker and artist with 13 years of experience in community mental health. My approach is that all people deserve to have the opportunity to experience a safe, kind, and welcoming space to explore their mental health, and that as a therapist, it is my job to nurture that. I am driven to create therapeutic opportunities for people who want and need them within the LGBTQ2IA+ community. I am open to working with clients that find themselves in need of an understanding, compassionate, and community-oriented therapist who will help to guide them through healing work. My areas of focus are: LGBTQ2IA+ and TGNC youth and emerging adults, major life transitions, trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, ADHD, gender dysphoria, and sexual identity exploration. I completed my Master of Social Work (MSW) and Master of Arts in Gender Studies (MA) degrees concurrently at Loyola University Chicago. Before entering graduate school, I worked in multiple positions focused on reproductive justice, body autonomy, and community care. My life and professional experiences have led me to provide therapy with a focus on community care through an anti oppressive lense. I understand that helping one person can have a positive impact on the greater community surrounding them. I believe that treatment approaches should fit the individual's needs and thus I utilize many modalities, including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, mindfulness, somatics, and narrative therapy. My approaches of curiosity and kindness create a welcoming space to engage in therapy. Choosing to work with a therapist is a powerful way to help yourself and we all deserve a chance to have focused time to explore, learn, and grow through challenges.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session together, I will introduce myself, explain my practice, and invite you to tell me about what has brought you to therapy. From there, we will review the intake form you have filled out prior to intake. This will give me the opportunity to gain more knowledge of you and determine how I believe we can best work together. By the end of the session I will offer you my ideas on moving forward, with the expectation of collaboration.
What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?
While my methodologies are based in CBT and DBT, the work I do with clients includes a variety of tools dependant upon the needs of the individual client. This can include: somatic interventions, mindfulness activities and practices, journaling, letter writing, art and making.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
My strengths are in cultivating spaces for clients to be themselves and explore new ways to be better and do better. I feel that while my niche is working with LGBTQ2IA+ youth and emerging adults, that my skills are transferrable to working with most people.