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

When you come in for your first session with me, my goal is simple: to help you feel safe, supported, and understood. Starting therapy can feel intimidating, vulnerable, or even overwhelming, especially if you’ve been holding everything together on your own for a long time. I want you to know that from the moment we begin, you will not be judged, rushed, or expected to have everything figured out. The first session is truly about getting to know you, your story, and what you hope to gain from therapy—at a pace that feels comfortable for you. We’ll start by taking a few minutes to settle in, breathe, and orient ourselves. I’ll explain how sessions work, what confidentiality means, and how our time together will flow. Many clients say this helps them relax and feel more grounded. I also encourage you to ask questions at any point—about the process, my approach, or anything that’s on your mind. This is your space, and I want it to feel safe and accessible. The beginning of our first session is usually spent exploring what brought you to therapy at this point in your life. Some people come in with a clear reason—anxiety that has become unmanageable, a recent loss, relationship stress, burnout, emotional overwhelm, or a life transition. Others simply feel “off,” disconnected, or weighed down, and they aren’t exactly sure why. Both are perfectly okay. You don’t need to have a polished story or a clear list of goals. Just sharing whatever feels most pressing is enough. As you talk, I will listen closely—not only to your words, but also to the emotions underneath them. My therapeutic style is warm, present, and attuned. I won’t interrupt or rush you. Instead, I’ll offer gentle questions that help you reflect more deeply on what you’re experiencing. Clients often tell me that they feel seen and validated in a way they haven’t felt in a long time. That emotional safety is one of the foundations of our work together. During this first session, I am also paying attention to your strengths—your resilience, your insight, your capacity to survive difficult things. Many clients arrive to therapy feeling broken, overwhelmed, or discouraged, and part of my role is to help you reconnect to the parts of yourself that are strong, capable, and worthy of healing. You may not see those strengths right now, but I will help you uncover them. As we continue talking, I will gather information about different areas of your life—your relationships, family history, work stressors, suppo

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

My greatest strengths as a therapist is my ability to create a space where clients feel deeply safe, seen, and understood. People come to therapy feeling emotionally exhausted, anxious, or unsure how to begin opening up. My approach is grounded in gentleness and steadiness, I meet clients exactly where they are, without pressure or judgment. This emotional safety allows clients to be honest, vulnerable, and reflective in ways they may never have experienced before. I consider it a privilege to hold space for people in this way, and it is a responsibility I take seriously. Another core strength of my therapeutic style is the balance I offer between compassion and practicality. I integrate emotionally attuned presence with evidence-based methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), EMDR, attachment-focused therapy, and grief-informed care. Clients often tell me that they appreciate how I can guide them through deep emotional work while also teaching skills they can use in their daily lives. I want clients to leave sessions feeling not only understood but also equipped—knowing they have tools to help them manage anxiety, regulate emotions, and navigate difficult internal experiences. I also have a strong ability to recognize patterns—especially relational and emotional patterns that clients may not be fully aware of. Many of the people I support grew up in families where they had to be the responsible one, the peacekeeper, the problem solver, or the quiet observer. Others learned to hide their true feelings or carry the emotional burdens of others. I help clients explore these long-standing patterns with compassion, helping them understand where they came from and how they can begin to change them. This insight often becomes a turning point in therapy, allowing clients to move toward healthier boundaries, greater self-worth, and more authentic relationships. My therapeutic presence is another strength clients often mention. I bring a calm, grounding energy into sessions. Even when clients feel overwhelmed or in crisis, I stay steady and attuned, helping them regulate their nervous system and find emotional footing. This calmness allows clients to explore difficult emotions without feeling alone or destabilized. It also models the very sense of internal peace and balance that they are trying to cultivate in their own lives. My work is also deeply informed by empathy. I listen with full attention—not just to what clients say but to what they mean, what they

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

My ideal clients are adults who find themselves in a season of life where something needs to change—emotionally, relationally, or spiritually—but they may feel unsure where to begin. These clients often come to therapy carrying years of internal pressure, worry, or unresolved pain. Some have been the responsible ones, the caretakers, the strong ones for everyone else, yet they rarely allow themselves the same compassion or support they give so freely to others. They may look “fine” on the outside while feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or depleted on the inside. My practice is a place where these individuals can finally set down their burdens and explore their inner world with someone who truly listens. The adults I work with tend to be thoughtful, reflective, and ready for meaningful change, even if they feel hesitant or stuck. Many are navigating chronic anxiety, grief, relationship issues, attachment wounds, or life transitions that have shaken their sense of identity or stability. Some come to therapy because they can no longer ignore the emotional toll of carrying childhood trauma or family-of-origin patterns into adulthood. Others feel disconnected—from themselves, from their relationships, or from the life they thought they would have. A large number of my clients are dealing with grief in all its forms: the loss of a loved one, the heartbreak of losing a relationship, the grief of unmet expectations, or the quiet grief that comes from navigating ongoing family conflicts. Many have been holding their grief alone for far too long and need a safe, steady presence to help them move through it. I help clients understand that grief is not something to “get over,” but something to integrate with compassion and patience. My ideal clients appreciate this gentle, paced approach to healing. I am also well-suited to work with individuals experiencing anxiety, chronic worry, and emotional overwhelm. These clients may describe themselves as overthinkers, perfectionists, or people who struggle to turn off their minds. They often carry heavy internal expectations and feel responsible for keeping everything together. In our work, I help them understand the root of their anxiety and build practical skills to calm their nervous system, challenge unhelpful thought patterns, and move toward a more grounded and peaceful way of living. Clients who value both emotional insight and usable, day-to-day coping tools tend to thrive in my care. Many of my ideal clients are navigati