Get to know me

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

Your first session with me is designed to feel grounding, supportive, and informative—not rushed, not overwhelming, and never judgmental. This is your space, and my role is to help you settle in, understand the process, and begin exploring what brings you here at a pace that feels safe. We begin with a brief conversation about the practical pieces: confidentiality, how therapy works, and what you can expect moving forward. This part is straightforward and helps create a foundation of clarity and trust. From there, we slowly shift into your story—not the entire story, not every detail, and not anything you’re not ready to discuss. Instead, we focus on what feels most relevant or urgent for you right now. You decide how much you want to share. During this first session, I’ll ask gentle questions to help me understand your experiences, symptoms, and goals. We may explore themes such as trauma history, anxiety triggers, relationship patterns, military service experiences, or the ways you’ve been coping. There is no pressure to have everything organized or perfectly explained. Many clients arrive unsure of where to begin—that’s completely normal, and part of my job is to help you find your starting point. I pay close attention to your comfort level. If something feels too intense, we slow down. If you need grounding or a moment to breathe, we take it. You can expect a balance of structure and flexibility: enough guidance so you don’t feel lost, and enough space so you don’t feel pushed. By the end of our first session, my intention is for you to walk away with three things: 1. A sense of safety—knowing that you are in a space where your experiences are respected, validated, and held with care. 2. A clearer understanding of what we’re working on together—your initial goals, the patterns we’re noticing, or what feels most important to you. 3. A plan for moving forward—including coping strategies, next steps, or specific therapeutic approaches that may be helpful for your needs. For clients navigating trauma, chronic anxiety, depression, or military-related stressors, the first session often becomes a moment of relief: the beginning of being understood rather than dismissed, heard rather than minimized, supported rather than expected to “just push through.” You do not need to prepare anything ahead of time. Simply come as you are—curious, nervous, uncertain, hopeful, or a mix of everything. I’ll meet you there, and together we’ll begin shaping a path toward

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is my ability to offer a clear balance of deep empathy and straightforward guidance. Clients often share that they feel genuinely understood in my care, while also appreciating my honest, down-to-earth approach. I create a safe, grounding space where you can talk openly about trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, or military-related stress without fear of judgment—and still receive the practical, evidence-based feedback you need to move forward. As a trauma-informed clinician, I am skilled at recognizing the patterns and survival strategies that develop after difficult experiences. Whether you’re navigating PTSD symptoms, chronic anxiety, emotional numbness, or high-functioning depression, I help you understand the “why” behind your reactions. My strength lies in translating complex emotional and neurological processes into language that makes sense, helping you feel more in control of your healing. My clients value that I am empathetic but direct. I’m warm and attuned, but I won’t sugarcoat your experiences or avoid the hard conversations. Instead, I provide compassionate honesty—supporting your emotions while also helping you break old cycles, challenge limiting beliefs, and build healthier coping skills. This balanced approach often leads to meaningful breakthroughs and long-lasting change. I also bring strong cultural insight to the work. As a bilingual, culturally sensitive therapist, I understand how identity, family roles, generational patterns, and cultural expectations influence mental health—especially within Hispanic/Latino communities. My clients often tell me they feel fully seen not just as individuals, but within the context of their culture, family system, and lived experience. For military clients, veterans, and their families, I offer a grounded, culturally competent understanding of military life. I recognize the silent pressures, the expectation to “push through,” and the emotional impact of deployments, transitions, and service-related trauma. Clients appreciate having a therapist who respects their resilience while offering a safe space to unpack what they’ve been carrying for years. Whether you are beginning therapy for the first time or returning after past experiences that felt rushed or invalidating, my goal is to meet you with authenticity, steadiness, and clear therapeutic direction. I show up fully present, attentive, and committed to your growth. I guide you at a pace tha

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

My ideal clients are people who are tired of carrying everything on their own. They may not know exactly what’s wrong—they just know something feels heavy, confusing, or out of balance. Maybe they’ve been through experiences that changed them, or they’re stuck in patterns that don’t match who they want to be anymore. Even if they’re unsure where to begin, they feel a pull toward support, clarity, or relief. That quiet inner signal—whether it sounds like exhaustion, hope, or “I can’t keep doing this”—becomes the starting point for our work. I’m especially drawn to working with individuals who have lived through trauma in any form: combat or deployment-related trauma, childhood wounds, complicated relationships, or emotionally overwhelming events that never fully healed. Many of my clients have spent years in survival mode—hyperaware, tightly guarded, or disconnected from their own needs. Outwardly, they’re often described as strong or dependable, yet inside they may feel numb, exhausted, or like they’re barely holding things together. I work well with military members, veterans, and their families because I understand the culture, the expectations, and the weight that often goes unspoken. My ideal military client may be dealing with PTSD symptoms, identity loss after leaving service, emotional distance in relationships, or the challenge of reconnecting with a world that feels different than before. Their spouses or partners may be navigating the stress of transitions, emotional unpredictability, or the invisible load of supporting someone through trauma. These clients benefit from a therapist who respects their resilience while also creating space for the parts they’ve had to silence. I’m also a good fit for young adults and adults who are figuring out who they are, why they feel the way they do, and how to build healthier relationships. Some are sorting through the after-effects of family conflict or cultural pressure. Others are perfectionists, high achievers, or caretakers who appear put together but feel overwhelmed on the inside. Many reach out because their usual coping—working harder, staying busy, avoiding conflict—just isn’t working anymore. Cultural sensitivity is important in my work, especially with clients from Hispanic/Latino backgrounds who are navigating family expectations, identity, or the push-and-pull between cultural values and personal needs. My clients appreciate a therapist who understands their cultural lens without judgment or assu