New to Grow
As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I work with adults and children who feel overwhelmed, emotionally worn down, or disconnected from themselves. Many people I meet are doing everything they can to keep going—showing up for work or school, caring for others, and managing daily responsibilities—while quietly carrying, or sometimes openly expressing, anxiety, anger, sadness, or a deep sense of exhaustion inside. At times, life no longer feels familiar. Reactions may feel bigger than expected. It can be hard to recognize yourself or understand why things feel so difficult. As a trauma-informed therapist, I understand that these experiences are not signs of weakness. My work is grounded in the belief that healing happens when people feel safe, understood, and supported at their own pace. I offer a calm, steady presence and a space where adults and children can begin to feel more regulated, more connected, and more like themselves again. Therapy is not about pushing through or forcing change. It is about slowing down, listening to what the mind and body are holding, and gently creating space for relief, clarity, and growth. My role is to walk alongside you—helping you make sense of what you’re experiencing, restore a sense of inner stability, and reconnect with the deeper “heart” of who you are: the part that holds resilience, self-compassion, strength, and the capacity for joy, even when it doesn’t feel that way yet.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
The first session is about creating safety, connection, and trust. There is no pressure to have the “right” words, to share everything at once, or to move faster than feels comfortable. Trauma-informed care means honoring your pace and boundaries from the very beginning. We will spend time talking about what has been weighing on you, what feels most urgent right now, and what you hope might change through therapy. I may ask gentle questions to better understand your experiences, but the focus is always on helping you feel supported, not overwhelmed. For adults, the first session often brings relief simply from being heard and understood without judgment. For children, sessions are developmentally appropriate and focused on helping them feel safe, comfortable, and seen. Emotional expression is welcomed in whatever way feels most natural—through words, play, or quiet presence. Throughout the session, I pay close attention to emotional cues and nervous system responses. If something feels too intense, we slow down. If grounding or stabilization is needed, we focus there. The goal is not to dive into discomfort or trauma right away, but to build a foundation of safety and regulation so deeper work can happen when the time is right. Regardless of where you are starting, you will leave with a clearer sense of direction and a roadmap for moving forward.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
My therapeutic approach is warm, collaborative, and deeply trauma-informed. I am both practical and tactical in my work, with a strong focus on helping adults and children gain usable tools they can apply in daily life. A core strength of my approach is the ability to balance structure with sensitivity—integrating concrete strategies for emotional regulation and stability while thoughtfully addressing the deeper experiences that influence emotional and behavioral patterns. I specialize in trauma-focused care and bring a clear understanding of how trauma impacts the nervous system, emotional responses, thought patterns, and relationships. Rather than approaching therapy from a deficit-based lens of “What’s wrong?” my work consistently centers on “What happened, and how did you adapt to survive?” This framework supports insight, reduces shame, and helps clients develop self-compassion and understanding. Another strength of my work is helping adults and children build structure, awareness, and skills that support functioning across daily environments, including home, school, and work. I intentionally create a therapeutic space where unresolved experiences can be explored in a way that feels safe, contained, and manageable. Sessions are paced with close attention to emotional readiness, nervous system capacity, and resilience-building, ensuring that the work remains supportive and grounded. My clinical style emphasizes safety, attunement, and thoughtful progression. Therapy is guided by collaboration, clear direction, and respect for each person’s individual process—allowing meaningful work to unfold while maintaining emotional stability throughout treatment.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I am well-suited to work with adults and children who experience anxiety, depression, emotional overwhelm, and the lasting effects of trauma or unresolved life experiences. Many people come to therapy not understanding feeling stuck and unsure how distress is showing up in their body or mind, but ready to find relief from ongoing emotional pain connected to life events. Adults often describe racing thoughts, a constant internal pressure to do more or be better, or an ongoing loop of “what if,” “I should,” or “I just need to get through this.” Some feel disconnected from joy or from themselves. Others feel emotionally reactive, numb, or exhausted from holding everything together. Trauma may be clearly identifiable, or it may feel harder to name—such as long-standing stress, difficult relationships, losses, or experiences that were never fully processed. Children may express distress in different ways. This can include emotional outbursts, withdrawal, anxiety, behavioral challenges, difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbances, or noticeable changes in mood or functioning. Often, children are doing the best they can with feelings they don’t yet have words for. The people I serve want relief—but they also want to feel grounded, emotionally safe, and more confident in themselves. They want to understand why they react the way they do and how to feel steadier in daily life. Therapy goals often include healing from trauma, reducing anxiety and depression, improving emotional regulation, and reconnecting with a sense of self that feels real, whole, and aligned.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT in a practical, supportive way to help people understand how their thoughts, emotions, and reactions are connected. Together, we look at what you’ve learned about yourself, other people, the world, and what you expect from the future—and how those beliefs may have formed during stressful or painful experiences. The goal is not to judge or “fix” your thoughts, but to gently understand them, reduce overwhelm, and create more helpful ways of responding so daily life feels more manageable and steady.
EMDR
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) as a gentle, structured approach to help both adults and children work through deeper symptoms related to trauma and overwhelming life experiences. At times, the mind and body continue to hold onto painful experiences long after the event has passed, even when someone logically understands that they are now safe. EMDR helps the brain and nervous system process these experiences so they no longer feel as intense or disruptive in the present. In my work, EMDR is always introduced thoughtfully and at a pace that feels safe and manageable. We pay close attention to how distress shows up not only in thoughts and emotions, but also in the body—such as tension, tightness, or sudden emotional reactions. By gently supporting the connection between mind and body, EMDR allows stored distress to move, settle, and integrate rather than remain stuck. For children, EMDR is adapted in developmentally appropriate ways, using simple language, grounding tools, and creativity to support safety and comfort. For adults, the focus remains on building awareness, regulation, and trust in the process. EMDR is not about reliving painful memories, but about helping the nervous system release what it has been holding and make room for relief, clarity, and healing.Throughout EMDR work, emotional safety, choice, and collaboration remain central. This allows healing to unfold in a way that feels respectful, contained, and supportive for both adults and children.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Mindfulness in a gentle, supportive way to help adults and children feel more grounded in the present moment and more connected to themselves. Mindfulness is not about clearing the mind or doing anything perfectly. It is about noticing what is happening right now—with curiosity and kindness—rather than getting pulled into worry about the past or future. In therapy, mindfulness helps slow things down. We gently bring attention to breathing, body sensations, emotions, or simple moments of awareness so the nervous system can settle. This supports ongoing regulation, especially when stress, anxiety, or strong emotions begin to rise. Over time, mindfulness helps people recognize early signs of overwhelm and respond with care instead of reacting automatically. For children, mindfulness is introduced in simple, accessible ways—through movement, sensory awareness, or brief moments of noticing. For adults, it may look like learning how to pause, check in with the body, or gently shift attention when emotions feel intense. The focus is always on creating safety and ease, not pushing through discomfort. Mindfulness in my work is woven into therapy as a supportive anchor. It helps build a steady connection to the present moment, allowing both adults and children to feel more regulated, more aware, and more capable of navigating daily life with greater calm and balance.
Play Therapy
Children often express what they are feeling through play and imagination rather than words. When something feels confusing, scary, or overwhelming, play gives children a safe way to show what is happening inside without having to explain it directly. Through play, children can act out experiences, try out different endings, and explore feelings in a way that feels natural and manageable. In therapy, play and imagination help children work through big emotions and difficult experiences at their own pace. A child might use toys, stories, drawings, or pretend scenarios to express fear, anger, sadness, or worry. This process allows the mind and body to release tension, make sense of what happened, and begin to feel safer. Play also helps children feel more in control. By using imagination, children can practice coping, problem-solving, and emotional regulation in a way that feels safe and empowering. Over time, play supports healing by helping children feel understood, calmer, and more confident as they move through challenges.