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

The first session is a gentle beginning—a chance for us to meet, settle in, and begin creating a space that feels safe, supportive, and truly yours. Many people feel a little nervous or uncertain before starting therapy, and that is completely normal. You don’t need to have everything figured out, and you don’t need to know exactly what to say. You can simply come as you are. Before our first meeting, you will be asked to complete a few intake forms and some brief measures. These are an important part of the process. They help me prepare thoughtfully for our time together, better understand what you’re experiencing, and ensure that I am meeting the documentation requirements of insurance. Without these completed forms, it can be difficult for us to move forward, so I truly appreciate you taking the time to fill them out ahead of our session. When we meet, our focus will be on getting to know you—what has been weighing on you, what brings you to therapy right now, and what you may be hoping for in your life. I may ask some questions about your history, your relationships, and the challenges you are facing, but there is never any pressure to share more than you feel ready to. Therapy is not about rushing or forcing anything—it is about moving at a pace that feels comfortable and respectful for you. We will also spend time talking about what support might look like moving forward and how I work as a therapist, so you have a clear sense of what therapy with me can feel like. Because sessions are held online, I encourage you to find a quiet, private space where you can feel at ease. And if technology glitches happen, that’s okay—we will work through them gently together. Most importantly, this is a space where you can breathe, slow down, and feel supported without judgment. My hope is that you will leave our first session feeling heard, understood, and a little more grounded—knowing that you don’t have to carry everything alone, and that we can take the next steps together, one moment at a time.

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

What makes my approach unique is the blend of experience, compassion, and a genuine commitment to walking alongside you—especially during the seasons of life that feel heavy, uncertain, or emotionally exhausting. Many of the people I work with come to therapy feeling overwhelmed by stress, navigating major life transitions, or carrying grief and loss in ways that are difficult to put into words. My hope is to offer a space where you don’t have to hold it all alone. Over the years, I have had the privilege of working in many different settings: supporting adults through a wide range of mental health challenges, working with children and adolescents, helping families in the child welfare system, and spending more than 15 years in academia as a teacher, scholar, and published author. These experiences have shaped not only my clinical knowledge, but also the way I show up in the therapy space—with steadiness, warmth, and deep respect for each person’s story. At the heart of my work is a belief that healing begins with being truly seen and accepted. I offer every client unconditional positive regard, care, and dignity—no matter what you are facing or where you are starting from. Reaching out for support can feel vulnerable, especially when life has been painful or uncertain, and I honor the courage it takes to take that first step. I also understand that some clients come to therapy feeling deeply beat down by life—discouraged by repeated disappointments, losses, or experiences that have made it hard to imagine things ever getting better. When hope feels distant or impossible, therapy can become a place to begin rebuilding it, gently and gradually. I bring a steady belief that change is possible, even when you cannot yet see the way forward. Together, we can open up new perspectives, uncover strengths that may have been buried under stress or grief, and begin to create new pathways toward healing and renewal. I see therapy as a collaborative and deeply human process. I am not here to “fix” you or rush you toward answers. Instead, I will meet you where you are, helping you slow down, breathe, and make sense of what you’re carrying. Whether you are grieving what was, adjusting to what is, or trying to find your footing in a new chapter, therapy can be a space of support, reflection, and meaningful growth. My goal is to create a safe, compassionate environment where healing can unfold naturally—at your pace, with care, patience, and hope.

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

I work best with people who are feeling that quiet itch for change—even if they’re not exactly sure yet what needs to shift. Sometimes it isn’t one dramatic event, but more of an inner knowing: a sense that something feels heavy, uncertain, or no longer sustainable. You may be functioning on the outside, doing what needs to be done, but inside you feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or simply tired of carrying so much alone. Many of the clients I connect with most are navigating seasons of transition—losses, endings, new beginnings, or chapters that feel unfamiliar. You might be grieving what was, adjusting to what is, or trying to make peace with what didn’t turn out the way you had hoped. Grief can show up in many forms: the death of someone you love, the loss of a relationship, the fading of a dream, or even the quiet mourning of a life that feels different than you expected. Stress and emotional exhaustion often accompany these moments, making it hard to feel grounded. Relational challenges can also weigh heavily during these seasons. Caregiving responsibilities, parenting stress, marriage difficulties, family tension, or feeling misunderstood by the people closest to you can begin to feel enormous—like a wrecking ball coming straight toward you. When emotions run high and life feels relentless, even small conflicts or daily demands can feel unmanageable. In therapy, we can begin to slow things down, make space to breathe, and gently bring what feels overwhelming into more reasonable, workable sizes. Even in the midst of all of this, a part of you may still sense that there is more to you…more strength, more potential, more life waiting to be lived. Perhaps you’ve spent years showing up for others, pushing through, holding it together, and now something inside you is longing to pause and ask: What do I need? What am I carrying? What would it feel like to live with more ease, clarity, and purpose? My ideal client is someone who is committed to growth and self-understanding, even when the path forward feels unclear. You may already be insightful and self-aware, but sometimes it helps to have someone beside you—someone who can listen with warmth, ask the right questions, and help you see your experience from a new angle. Therapy can be a space where you untangle old patterns, process what you’ve been through, and reconnect with the parts of yourself that have been buried under stress, grief, or survival mode. If you are ready to tap into what is already inside you—to heal, to find steadiness again, and to take meaningful steps toward the life you want—I would be honored to support you. Together, we can create new pathways forward, rooted in resilience, hope, and lasting change.