LCSW, 8 years of experience
I’ve counseled people in some form or fashion for most of my life. When I was younger, friends came to me with their problems and left our conversation feeling better. Seeing the change in them was moving and made me realize I wanted to do this professionally. However, my journey to becoming a therapist was an unusual one. I was a monk for more than a decade and worked abroad. During that time, I gained a deeper understanding of the human experience and struggle. It shaped me as a therapist and has since helped me identify people’s deeper issues as well as give concrete and practical advice.
In our first session of course is finding out what you as the client is looking for, what do you need, what made you seek help for, and if there is enough time, also getting a quick overview of where you are at with basic self-care practices that impact mental health.
Listening with empathy and non-judgement. Being patient and meeting people where they are at.
I feel I best equipped helping those that feel stuck in life and are ready to make necessary lifestyle changes to move forward. I am also good at helping people navigate transitions in their life, whether in their personal or work lives.
Talk therapy and trauma processing are a big component, but as a former yoga monk of 13 years, I use a wholistic approach to treatment, focusing on body, mind and spirit and encouraging lifestyle change.