New to Grow
I provide therapy to adolescents, adults, and older adults who are navigating life transitions, emotional challenges, or complex mental health concerns. I am passionate about supporting individuals as they work toward healing, personal growth, and meaningful life goals. My priority is to create a safe, supportive space where clients feel heard, validated, and respected, allowing them to explore their experiences at a pace that feels right for them. I hold dual master’s degrees in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling from Walden University. My professional experience includes work in child advocacy, community mental health, and crisis intervention. These roles have allowed me to support diverse and multicultural populations, including individuals with histories of serious mental illness (SMI), trauma, sexual abuse, grief, and other significant life stressors. Across settings, I help clients identify their strengths, set realistic goals, and build resilience in the face of past or current challenges. My therapeutic approach is person‑centered and collaborative, integrating evidence‑based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness strategies informed by Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Motivational Interviewing. I focus on building strong rapport and offering my full presence so clients feel safe, understood, and supported. Together, we develop practical coping tools that empower clients to manage emotions, navigate change, and move forward with confidence.
The first session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other and begin building a strong therapeutic foundation. My goal is to create a space where you feel comfortable, supported, and understood from the very beginning. 1. Building Rapport We’ll start by getting acquainted and talking about what brought you to therapy. This part of the session is conversational and designed to help you feel at ease. I’ll ask questions at a pace that feels comfortable, and you’re welcome to share as much or as little as you’re ready for. Establishing trust and connection is an important part of our work together. 2. Reviewing Confidentiality I will explain how confidentiality works, including what information is kept private and the specific situations where I am legally or ethically required to break confidentiality for safety reasons. I want you to feel informed and safe discussing your experiences. 3. Going Through the Intake Information We’ll review key pieces of your intake together—your history, current concerns, symptoms, strengths, and goals. This helps me understand your experiences more fully and ensures that nothing important is overlooked. You can clarify anything you’d like or add details that feel relevant. 4. Exploring Your Goals and Expectations We’ll talk about what you hope to gain from therapy, what progress might look like for you, and how you prefer to work together. This helps us create a shared understanding of your priorities and ensures that our sessions align with your needs. 5. Discussing What Therapy Will Look Like Moving Forward I’ll explain my therapeutic approach, how sessions are structured, and what you can expect from me as your therapist. We’ll also discuss your role in the process, including how we collaborate, check in about progress, and adjust goals over time. 6. Space for Questions You’ll have time to ask questions about therapy, my approach, or anything else that helps you feel more comfortable and informed.
I bring a warm, supportive presence to each session, creating a space where you feel safe, respected, and genuinely heard. My strengths include strong rapport‑building skills, a trauma‑informed and culturally responsive lens, and the ability to adapt my approach to adolescents, adults, and older adults. I draw from evidence‑based practices such as CBT, mindfulness‑based strategies, and Motivational Interviewing to offer practical, effective tools. I communicate clearly, provide structure when needed, and stay fully present so you feel guided, understood, and empowered throughout the therapeutic process.
My ideal client is someone who is ready to explore their inner world with honesty, curiosity, and a desire for meaningful change. I work best with individuals who may feel overwhelmed, stuck, or disconnected, yet still hold a quiet hope that things can improve with the right support. I am especially well‑positioned to serve clients who: Are navigating depression, anxiety, or chronic stress, and want practical tools to manage symptoms while also understanding the deeper patterns beneath them. Struggle with identity, life transitions, or shifting roles—whether adolescence, early adulthood, parenthood, caregiving, or aging. Carry complex family dynamics or relationship stress, and want a safe space to process emotions, set boundaries, and strengthen communication. Are motivated to build coping skills, increase self-awareness, and develop healthier habits through evidence‑based approaches like CBT, mindfulness, and Motivational Interviewing. Value a collaborative, nonjudgmental therapeutic relationship, where they can show up authentically and feel both supported and challenged in meaningful ways. Are open to self-reflection, even if they feel unsure where to begin, and appreciate structure, clarity, and gentle guidance throughout the therapeutic process. My clients often come in feeling exhausted, discouraged, or unsure of their next steps—but they are willing to engage, ask questions, and try new strategies. They want therapy that feels safe, empowering, and tailored to their developmental stage and lived experience. Ultimately, I am most effective with clients who want to understand themselves more deeply, strengthen their emotional resilience, and create lasting change in their daily lives and relationships.
I identify as
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
In my practice, I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and to develop practical skills for managing emotions and responding more effectively to stress. I guide clients in identifying unhelpful thinking patterns, challenging automatic thoughts, and practicing healthier cognitive and behavioral strategies. Sessions are collaborative and trauma‑informed, with a focus on real‑life application, skill-building, and reinforcing strengths. I tailor CBT interventions to each client’s developmental stage and needs, ensuring the work feels supportive, empowering, and achievable.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
In my practice, I use Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)–informed strategies to help clients build emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and healthy communication skills. I integrate DBT flexibly and collaboratively, tailoring skills to each client’s developmental stage, needs, and goals. Sessions focus on increasing awareness, reducing emotional reactivity, and strengthening coping strategies that support stability and resilience. My approach is warm, trauma‑informed, and strengths‑based, ensuring clients feel supported as they learn practical tools they can use in their daily lives.
Grief Therapy
In my practice, I provide grief‑informed therapy that helps clients understand and navigate the emotional, cognitive, and physical impact of loss. I draw from contemporary grief frameworks, trauma‑informed care, and evidence‑based approaches such as CBT, DBT‑informed skills, and mindfulness. My work focuses on creating a safe, compassionate space where clients can express their emotions, process the pain of loss, explore meaning, and rebuild a sense of identity and stability. I tailor grief therapy to each client’s developmental stage, cultural background, and unique experience, supporting them as they move through grief at their own pace.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
In my practice, I integrate mindfulness‑based therapy to help clients develop present‑moment awareness, emotional regulation, and greater self‑compassion. Mindfulness allows clients to observe their thoughts and feelings without judgment, creating space for healthier responses and deeper insight. I blend mindfulness with CBT, DBT‑informed strategies, and trauma‑informed care, tailoring exercises to each client’s developmental stage, comfort level, and cultural background. My goal is to help clients feel grounded, empowered, and more connected to themselves as they navigate life’s challenges.
Motivational Interviewing
In my practice, I use Motivational Interviewing (MI) to help clients explore ambivalence, strengthen intrinsic motivation, and move toward meaningful change. MI allows clients to identify their own reasons for growth while feeling supported, understood, and empowered. I integrate MI with CBT, DBT‑informed strategies, and trauma‑informed care to help clients build confidence, clarify their goals, and take practical steps that align with their values. My approach is collaborative, strengths‑based, and tailored to each client’s developmental stage and readiness for change.