New to Grow
I am a therapist who is passionate about helping people create meaningful and lasting change in their lives. I provide a supportive, collaborative, and direct approach to therapy, helping clients better understand themselves while developing practical tools to move toward their goals. I believe that insight is important, but meaningful growth also comes through action. Activity, movement, and engagement are important parts of my philosophy of well-being, and I encourage clients to explore healthy ways of connecting with themselves, others, and the world around them. Whether you are navigating anxiety, trauma, substance use concerns, relationship challenges, or life transitions, I am excited to partner with you in building a life that feels healthier, more balanced, and aligned with what matters most to you.
The first session is an opportunity for us to get to know one another and begin building a foundation for our work together. We will review any intake paperwork and forms you have completed, discuss confidentiality and the therapy process, and address any questions you may have about treatment. During our conversation, I will ask additional questions to better understand your current concerns, personal history, strengths, and the challenges that have brought you to therapy. This helps me gain a clearer picture of your experiences and what may be contributing to the difficulties you are facing. We will also spend time identifying what you would like to work on in therapy and discussing your goals for treatment. Whether you are seeking support for anxiety, trauma, substance use concerns, relationship challenges, life transitions, or personal growth, the first session helps us begin creating a plan that is tailored to your needs. My goal is to provide a comfortable, supportive, and collaborative environment where you feel heard and understood. By the end of the session, we will have a better understanding of your goals and discuss next steps for moving forward together.
One of the strengths I bring to therapy is a balance of support, honesty, and directness. I believe meaningful growth often comes from exploring difficult topics, and I am willing to ask thoughtful questions that encourage clients to look at situations from new perspectives. While these questions can sometimes be challenging, clients frequently tell me they are thought-provoking and help them gain deeper insight into themselves, their relationships, and the patterns that may be keeping them stuck. I strive to create a space where clients feel both supported and challenged. My goal is not simply to help people feel better in the moment, but to help them develop greater self-awareness, identify obstacles to change, and take meaningful steps toward the life they want to build. I value open communication and welcome feedback throughout the therapy process so that our work together remains collaborative and focused on what is most important to you.
I work with adults who are experiencing challenges related to anxiety, trauma, substance use or substance misuse, relationship difficulties, life transitions, and patterns of behavior that no longer feel effective or aligned with their goals. Many of the individuals I work with recognize that something in their life needs to change, but may feel uncertain about where to begin, why they continue to repeat certain patterns, or how to create lasting change. My approach is particularly well-suited for clients who are motivated to better understand themselves and are open to exploring the connection between their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, relationships, and life experiences. Whether someone is seeking relief from symptoms, healing from past experiences, improving relationships, developing healthier coping strategies, or creating meaningful life changes, I provide a supportive and collaborative space to work toward those goals. Drawing from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and systems-based approaches, I help clients gain insight into their experiences while also developing practical tools for everyday life. Together, we identify patterns that may be keeping them stuck, build skills for managing emotions and stress, explore the underlying reasons behind behaviors, and develop healthier ways of responding to challenges. I also work with couples and families who want to improve communication, strengthen relationships, navigate conflict more effectively, and create more supportive and connected dynamics. My goal is to help clients move beyond simply understanding their struggles and toward making meaningful, sustainable changes that support their overall well-being and quality of life.
Other specialties
I identify as
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help people better understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. CBT is based on the idea that the way we interpret situations can have a significant impact on how we feel and how we respond. In our work together, we will explore patterns in your thinking and behavior that may be contributing to distress or making it harder to reach your goals. We will identify thoughts that arise in challenging situations, examine whether those thoughts are accurate, balanced, and helpful, and consider alternative ways of looking at things when appropriate. CBT is a collaborative and practical approach. Rather than simply talking about problems, we work on developing skills and strategies that can be applied in everyday life. This may include learning new ways to respond to difficult situations, testing out new behaviors, improving coping skills, and building healthier habits. The goal is not to force positive thinking, but to help you develop more realistic, balanced, and helpful perspectives that support your well-being. Over time, this can lead to improvements in mood, relationships, confidence, and overall functioning.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I use Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help people develop practical skills for managing emotions, coping with stress, improving relationships, and staying present in the moment. DBT is especially helpful for people who feel overwhelmed by intense emotions, struggle with impulsive reactions, or want to build healthier ways of responding to life's challenges. In our work together, we focus on building skills in four key areas: Mindfulness – learning to be more aware of your thoughts, emotions, and experiences in the present moment without immediately reacting to them. Distress Tolerance – developing healthy ways to cope with difficult situations and intense emotions without making things worse. Emotion Regulation – understanding emotions and learning strategies to manage them more effectively. Interpersonal Effectiveness – building communication and relationship skills that help you express your needs, set boundaries, and maintain healthy connections with others. DBT is a skill-based and collaborative approach. During sessions, we identify situations that are challenging for you, discuss which skills may be most helpful, and create opportunities to practice them. We also review how the skills worked in real-life situations, evaluate their effectiveness, and make adjustments as needed. An important part of DBT is learning when to use specific skills. Together, we explore how different situations call for different responses and develop a personalized toolkit of strategies that you can draw on when needed. The goal is to help you respond to life's challenges more effectively, increase emotional balance, strengthen relationships, and build a life that feels more manageable and meaningful.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
I use Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help people better understand themselves by exploring the different “parts” of their inner world. We all have different parts of ourselves that can show up in different situations—for example, a part that is self-critical, a part that avoids difficult feelings, a part that wants to please others, or a part that strives for perfection. In IFS, we approach these parts with curiosity rather than judgment. Instead of trying to get rid of difficult thoughts, emotions, or behaviors, we work to understand them. Often, these parts developed for important reasons and were trying to protect us or help us cope at some point in our lives. Together, we identify and get to know the different parts of you, listening to what they are trying to communicate and appreciating the role they have played. This process can help us understand why certain behaviors, reactions, or patterns continue to show up—even when they may no longer be effective or aligned with your current goals. As we build understanding and compassion for these parts, we can help them take on healthier roles and develop new ways of responding to challenges. This often leads to greater self-awareness, emotional healing, increased self-compassion, and a stronger sense of balance and confidence in navigating life's difficulties. The goal of IFS is not to change who you are, but to help you develop a more connected and trusting relationship with all parts of yourself so that you can respond to life from a place of greater clarity, choice, and self-leadership.
Couples Counseling
In couples counseling, I work with partners to better understand one another, strengthen communication, and address challenges in ways that support a healthier and more satisfying relationship. The process begins with identifying what each person would like to improve within the relationship, whether that involves communication, trust, conflict resolution, emotional connection, intimacy, shared responsibilities, or other concerns. Together, we create a space where both partners can openly express their thoughts, feelings, needs, and concerns while feeling heard and respected. We explore patterns that may be contributing to misunderstandings or conflict and work to understand how each person's experiences, perspectives, and communication styles influence the relationship. A major focus of our work is learning how to communicate identified concerns effectively. This includes developing skills such as active listening, expressing needs clearly, responding with empathy, managing difficult conversations, and working through disagreements in a productive way. Couples counseling is a collaborative process. During sessions, we practice new communication and relationship skills, discuss how they are working outside of therapy, and make adjustments as needed. The goal is not to determine who is right or wrong, but to help both partners better understand each other and work together toward shared relationship goals. Through this process, couples often develop stronger communication, deeper emotional connection, increased trust, and more effective ways of navigating challenges together.
Family Therapy
In family therapy, I work with family members to improve communication, strengthen relationships, and address challenges that may be affecting the family system as a whole. Family therapy recognizes that each person's experiences, behaviors, and emotions influence the family dynamic, and that lasting change is often most effective when family members work together toward shared goals. The process begins by identifying what each family member would like to improve, as well as understanding the family's strengths, concerns, and patterns of interaction. These goals may include improving communication, resolving conflict, strengthening relationships, navigating life transitions, addressing behavioral concerns, increasing understanding among family members, or creating a healthier and more supportive home environment. Together, we create a space where each person has the opportunity to share their perspective and feel heard. We explore how family members communicate with one another, respond to stress, and influence one another's experiences. Rather than focusing on one individual as the source of a problem, we work to understand the larger patterns and dynamics that may be contributing to challenges within the family. A central focus of family therapy is developing skills that help family members communicate more effectively, listen with greater understanding, express needs and concerns respectfully, establish healthy boundaries, and work collaboratively to solve problems. We also identify strengths within the family and build upon existing resources that can support positive change. Family therapy is a collaborative and active process. During sessions, family members practice new ways of interacting, learn strategies for managing conflict and difficult emotions, and evaluate what is working both in and outside of therapy. As challenges arise, we adjust approaches to better meet the family's needs and goals. The goal of family therapy is to foster greater understanding, strengthen relationships, improve communication, and help family members work together more effectively so the family can function in a healthier, more connected, and supportive way.