Get to know me

In our first session together, here's what you can expect

Starting therapy can feel both hopeful and a little intimidating, so I want you to know what to expect. Our first session is really about getting to know you—your story, your goals, and what you’re hoping to gain from therapy. I’ll ask some questions to better understand your background and what brought you here, but there’s no pressure to share everything all at once. You get to set the pace. We’ll talk about what feels most important to you right now, and together we’ll begin shaping a plan for our work. I’ll also answer any questions you have about the therapy process, the approaches I use, and how we can best collaborate. Most importantly, the first session is about creating a space where you feel safe, respected, and understood. By the end, you should have a clearer sense of what it’s like to work with me and whether this feels like the right fit for you.

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

One of the qualities that clients consistently notice about me is my ability to create a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental space. I know that coming to therapy can feel vulnerable, and my first priority is making sure you feel seen, heard, and respected exactly as you are. Many clients have shared that they quickly feel comfortable opening up with me, even about things they’ve never spoken about before, because I bring warmth, patience, and genuine care into every session. At the same time, I believe that therapy is about more than just listening—it’s about creating opportunities for growth. A strength of mine is balancing empathy and support with gentle, thoughtful challenges. I don’t shy away from asking meaningful questions or helping you notice patterns that might be holding you back. Clients often say this balance helps them feel both cared for and encouraged to move toward lasting change. Another strength is my flexibility in the methods I use. Over the past 14 years, I’ve trained in and practiced a wide range of therapeutic approaches, including attachment-based therapy, culturally sensitive therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and psychodynamic therapy. I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, I take time to understand your unique needs and tailor my methods so that our work fits you, not the other way around. For some clients, that means practical coping tools you can start using right away. For others, it may mean processing difficult past experiences or exploring deeper themes that shape your present. My approach is also trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, gender-affirming, and rooted in social justice. This isn’t just about training or buzzwords—it reflects how I truly view people. I pay attention to how culture, identity, and lived experience shape your story, and I honor those aspects of who you are in our work together. Clients have told me this helps them feel fully accepted and understood, especially when they haven’t always had that in other spaces. I also bring the strength of experience beyond the therapy room. As a professor in both master’s and PhD programs, I’ve trained future counselors and counselor educators, which keeps me deeply connected to the latest research, theory, and best practices. As a researcher and scholar, I stay curious and continually expand my knowledge so that my clients benefit from the most current and effective approaches a

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

You may be considering therapy because you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or simply ready for a change. Maybe you’ve been carrying the weight of past experiences and want to finally make sense of how they affect you today. Perhaps you’re struggling in relationships, feeling disconnected from yourself or others, or noticing patterns that keep repeating no matter how hard you try to move forward. You might also be searching for a safe, affirming space to talk openly about identity, culture, or experiences that haven’t always felt understood. If any of this sounds familiar, I want you to know that you’re not alone—and that healing, growth, and transformation are possible. Over the past 14 years, I’ve supported people across different life stages and with a wide range of challenges: anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship struggles, grief, life transitions, and more. What I’ve learned is that therapy is most powerful when it’s tailored to you—your story, your needs, and your goals. My Approach I see therapy as a collaborative process. That means we’ll work together to explore what matters most to you, while I provide support, guidance, and evidence-based strategies to help you move forward. Clients often describe my approach as gentle but also appropriately challenging—I’ll walk alongside you with warmth and compassion, while also inviting you to grow in ways that may feel new and empowering. My practice is trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, gender-affirming, and socially justice oriented. To me, this isn’t just about therapy techniques—it’s about creating a space where you can show up as your whole self and feel truly seen. I pay attention to how systems, culture, and lived experience shape your mental health, relationships, and sense of self. In our work, safety and trust come first. Healing can only happen when you feel secure in the therapeutic relationship. From that foundation, we can explore both the challenges you’re facing and the possibilities for growth. Concerns I Often Help With Healing from past trauma or painful experiences that continue to impact you Managing anxiety, depression, or stress that feels hard to cope with alone Navigating relationship challenges, communication struggles, or attachment wounds Exploring identity, culture, and belonging in ways that honor your lived experience Moving through grief, loss, or major life transitions Building resilience, self-compassion, and healthier coping strategies Who I’m Especial

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