Hi there — I’m Sydney! I earned my Master of Social Work from the University of Indianapolis, where I also minored in psychology. My master’s concentration was in Integrated Behavioral Health Systems, which is a fancy way of saying I pay attention to how all the different parts of our lives — relationships, work, family, physical health, stress, past experiences, and environment — interact with one another. That systems perspective still shapes the way I approach therapy today because life RARELY happens in neat, separate categories. I’ve worked with clients of all ages, but I especially enjoy working with people who are willing to lean into the uncomfortable parts of growth. Therapy with me includes equal parts humor and hard conversations. My style is direct, honest, and grounded — no Pinterest quotes or sprinkling glitter over hard things. I’m here to offer honest feedback, practical support, and a space where you can show up exactly as you are. I often describe therapy as unpacking an overstuffed suitcase you’ve been dragging around for years. Together, we take things out piece by piece, figure out what still serves you, what never should’ve been yours to carry, and organize it in a way that feels manageable instead of chaotic. I like to think of it as hiring a professional emotional organizer. Through exploring trauma, relationships, patterns, and life stressors, we work toward helping you move forward with more clarity and less weight. I work full-time in private practice and love helping people navigate relationships, untangle life’s chaos, and find ways forward that actually feel sustainable. I’ll likely always have a cup of coffee nearby, and my furry emotional support sidekick, Henry Jo, quietly judging your choices from the corner (though he may judge less harshly if you bring a tennis ball to session).
Your first session is a chance for us to get to know each other and begin understanding what’s bringing you to therapy. We’ll talk through current stressors, relevant history, and the patterns that feel most important to YOU to explore. I’ll ask questions that help me understand the bigger picture of your life, including relationships, work, health, and support systems, so we can start building a clear clinical roadmap together. The first session is also an opportunity for you to get a feel for me, ask questions, and better understand my approach. Therapy is a collaborative process, and I want you to feel comfortable deciding whether the way I work feels supportive and aligned with what you need. Beyond the standard clinical questions, my goal is to help create direction from the very beginning so you leave the session with a better understanding of where we’re headed and what we’ll be working toward together.
My greatest strengths as a therapist are my ability to be both direct and compassionate while helping clients make sense of the patterns, relationships, and experiences that feel overwhelming or chaotic. I value building strong rapport early on while also helping clients create a clear direction for therapy from the beginning. Asking hard questions, giving honest feedback, and maintaining trust at the same time can be a difficult balance, but it is one of the strongest parts of my work. I approach therapy in an authentic and human way because growth is rarely neat or perfect. I tend to think outside the box when helping clients understand themselves more deeply. My style works best with people who are open to honest conversations, self-reflection, and the uncomfortable but meaningful parts of change. My goal is to help clients feel understood, challenged, and supported while working through life in a way that feels more manageable and intentional.
I’m best positioned to work with clients who are willing to unpack the messy, complicated parts of life and lean into hard conversations with honesty and curiosity. My approach is less about worksheets and quick fixes and more about helping you understand the deeper patterns, experiences, and relationships that shape the way you move through the world. I tend to work well with people who appreciate an abstract, outside-the-box approach to therapy and are open to exploring the parallel process between life, relationships, and the therapy room itself. Together, we sort through the emotional clutter piece by piece so things feel less chaotic, more intentional, and easier to carry.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as a practical, collaborative framework to help clients understand how their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors interact and influence one another in everyday life. A big focus of this work is identifying unhelpful or automatic thought patterns that may be keeping you stuck, and then gently challenging and reshaping them in a way that feels more balanced and accurate. We also look at behavior—because insight alone isn’t usually enough—and build small, realistic changes that support new patterns over time. CBT in my practice is not rigid or worksheet-heavy unless that’s helpful for you; instead, it’s used as a structured but flexible tool to create clarity, reduce overwhelm, and give you something concrete to work with between sessions.
Humanistic
I use a humanistic approach by centering the therapeutic relationship and your lived experience as the foundation of our work together. This means showing up as a real, engaged person in the room and creating a space where you feel genuinely heard, respected, and not judged. I focus on understanding your perspective, values, and strengths, and I trust your capacity for insight and growth rather than positioning myself as the “expert on your life.” Sessions are guided by what feels most important to you in the moment, with the goal of helping you feel more connected to yourself and supported.
Motivational Interviewing
I use Motivational Interviewing (MI) to guide you through goal exploration, challenges, and developing motivation for change in a supportive and nonjudgmental environment. Through open conversation, reflective listening, and encouragement, you are able to identify your strengths, build confidence, and develop meaningful steps toward positive change. This approach allows you to move at your own pace while feeling heard and respected.
8 ratings with written reviews
November 18, 2025
Sydney is extremely comprehensive and addresses all my concerns with intention and sincerity. I always leave a session feeling whole.
August 18, 2025
Sydney is extremely understanding and genuinely it feels like you’re talking to an old friend when you’re talking with her. She speaks from her heart and again is very understanding and helpful about life situations. 1000/10 recommend.
June 29, 2025
I began feeling more hopeful after our first appointment, especially after seeing a practical and realistic treatment plan. I’m looking forward to leaning on her support regarding other upcoming/ongoing challenges.