New to Grow
I specialize in trauma therapy, LGBTQ+ affirming care, adult survivors of childhood abuse relearing how to parent, and direct ASL counseling for the Deaf community. I spent 30 years as a sign language interpreter before moving into this field. That background taught me how to be present during vulnerable moments and how to serve people who get overlooked by mainstream systems. My focus is on deeper therapy that helps people understand root causes of symptoms instead of trying to simply manage them. Coping skills help you survive the day. Knowing yourself changes how you live.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
First sessions are about figuring out if we can work together. I'll ask what brought you to therapy and what you're hoping to accomplish. We'll talk about your history - what's happened, what you've already tried, and what hasn't worked. I'll explain how I work and what you can realistically expect from therapy. If you're not sure where to start or how to describe what's going on, that's fine. We'll figure it out together. If you've had bad experiences with therapy before, we'll talk about that too. If you need to communicate in ASL, we'll work directly without an interpreter. By the end of the session, you'll have a clear sense of whether my approach fits what you need. If it does, we'll talk about what happens next. If it doesn't, I'll help you figure out what might work better. There's no pressure to commit - first sessions are as much about you evaluating me as they are about me understanding your situation.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
I help people understand why they're stuck. Usually it's because different parts of them want different things. One part wants to change while another part holds back. One part tries to move forward while another part sabotages. The parts of yourself that cause problems developed for good reasons and still believe they're protecting you. My work involves figuring out what each part needs so they can cooperate instead of fighting each other. This means getting honest about things you normally avoid thinking about - the motivations you don't want to acknowledge, the patterns you'd rather not see. I work with clients to build the kind of relationship where that honesty can happen without judgment. I'm direct about what I notice in our sessions and what patterns I'm seeing. The goal is helping you understand your own internal conflicts well enough that you can make different choices based on actual insight.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I work well with clients who are ready for therapy that goes deeper than symptom management, people who want to understand why they react the way they do, what drives those automatic responses, and how past experiences still show up in present life. Standard self-help advice can get you through the day in the short term, which is important, but clients who are ready for something more substantial often benefit from this approach. This includes people dealing with unresolved trauma, parents carrying wounds from their own childhood who are terrified of repeating patterns with their own children, LGBTQ+ folks who want a therapist who already understands the context of their lives, and Deaf clients who are looking for therapy in their own language. If this sounds like what you're looking for, I'd love to meet you.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use CBT to help you identify the connections between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors—particularly when old patterns aren't serving you anymore. Rather than just managing symptoms, we'll examine where these thought patterns originated (often in trauma or survival responses) and develop new ways of responding that align with who you are now. CBT is especially effective for anxiety, depression, and PTSD, giving you practical tools you can use between sessions and long after therapy ends.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
DBT skills are incredibly useful for managing intense emotions and improving relationships. I incorporate DBT techniques like mindfulness, distress tolerance, and emotion regulation—particularly helpful if you struggle with emotional overwhelm or relationship patterns that feel out of control. These aren't just coping skills to get through the day; they're tools that help you build the life you actually want while honoring the complexity of your experiences.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
IFS helps us understand the different "parts" of yourself—the protector who keeps you safe through anger or avoidance, the wounded part carrying old pain, the critic who learned hypervigilance keeps you alive. This approach is particularly powerful for trauma work because it honors that every part of you developed for a reason. We'll help these parts feel safe enough to step back, allowing your authentic Self to lead. Many clients find IFS deeply validating because it doesn't pathologize their survival strategies.
Narrative
Narrative Therapy recognizes that you're not the problem—the problem is the problem. We'll examine the stories you've been told about yourself (often by family, society, or past trauma) and separate your identity from those narratives. This approach is especially meaningful for LGBTQ+ clients and others whose authentic selves have been marginalized or pathologized. Together, we'll re-author your story in ways that honor your truth and reclaim your power.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
Person-Centered Therapy is the foundation of everything I do. You are the expert on your own life, and my role is to provide unconditional positive regard, genuine empathy, and a safe space for you to explore at your own pace. This isn't about me fixing you or telling you what to do—it's about creating conditions where your natural capacity for growth and healing can emerge. This approach is particularly important for clients who've experienced judgment, rejection, or having their identity invalidated.