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

Our first session is about creating comfort and connection. I’ll take time to get to know you and your child, learn what’s been challenging, and hear what’s already working. We’ll talk about goals, routines, and any patterns you’ve noticed at home or school. For younger clients, I often incorporate art or play right away, simple creative activities that help them feel more relaxed and show me how they express themselves. There’s no pressure to “open up” right away; the goal is to build trust and safety, so therapy feels like a supportive space rather than another expectation. With parents, we’ll explore what brought you here and what you’d like to see change over time. We’ll discuss how sessions are structured, ways we can include you in the process, and how to reinforce progress between sessions. By the end of our first meeting, you’ll have a clearer sense of how we’ll work together and what early steps we can take to start building insight and emotional tools. Every family is different, so we’ll move at a pace that feels right for you and your child.

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

My greatest strength as a therapist is creating a calm, accepting space where children, teens, and families feel genuinely understood. I lead with curiosity and compassion, helping clients feel safe enough to explore what’s really happening beneath behavior or emotion. I see therapy as a collaborative process. Rather than focusing on “fixing” symptoms, I focus on building awareness, insight, and practical tools for lasting change. Whether through art, play, or conversation, my goal is to help children express themselves in ways that feel natural and empowering, while guiding families toward stronger communication and emotional connection. Creativity plays a big role in my approach. Art therapy allows feelings and experiences to take shape in color, line, or image when words fall short. Sometimes drawing or creating together opens a door that traditional talk therapy can’t. These moments of expression often bring clarity and relief, creating space for new ways of understanding and coping. I also bring steadiness and patience to the therapy process. Many children and families come to therapy feeling overwhelmed, misunderstood, or uncertain about how to make things better. I help them slow down, notice patterns, and reconnect with their strengths. Progress isn’t always linear, but each step toward trust, awareness, or self-expression matters deeply. My background as both a licensed professional counselor and a registered art therapist allows me to integrate creativity with evidence-based methods such as mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral strategies. I adapt these approaches to fit each child’s developmental level, sensory needs, and personality so therapy feels both accessible and meaningful. What guides my work most is the belief that connection heals. Every person deserves to feel seen, safe, and capable of change. I strive to meet each client exactly where they are, offering warmth, flexibility, and encouragement as they rediscover confidence, curiosity, and hope. My strength lies in seeing the whole picture: not just symptoms or behaviors, but the relationships, environment, and emotions that shape them. I help children and families translate what feels confusing or chaotic into something that can be understood and worked with. Through this process, therapy becomes not just a place to manage challenges, but a space to grow, learn, and reconnect.

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

The families I work best with are those who are ready to slow down and understand what’s really happening beneath the surface: in themselves, in their child, and in their relationships. They may be feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of how to help their child manage emotions, behavior, or changes in life. Many of the children and teens I see are neurodivergent, creative, or deeply feeling individuals who experience the world in rich and sometimes intense ways. They may struggle with emotional regulation, anxiety, attention, or transitions. Some have a diagnosis; others simply feel different or misunderstood. My role is to help them find language and expression for their experiences, through art, conversation, and gentle curiosity, so they can feel seen, supported, and capable. I also work closely with parents and caregivers who want to better understand and support their child while learning to manage their own stress in the process. These parents may carry guilt, frustration, or worry, wondering if they’re doing enough or saying the right things. In therapy, we work together to replace self-blame with understanding, and to develop practical strategies that make home life calmer and more connected. I believe therapy works best when it’s a partnership. You don’t need a specific diagnosis or a clear “problem” to begin, just a desire to understand, to reconnect, and to create space for growth. Whether a family is navigating neurodivergence, anxiety, depression, or big life changes, I meet each person where they are and move at a pace that feels right. The families I connect most with value creativity, reflection, and authenticity. They want to be seen as a whole, not just as symptoms, behaviors, or labels. My work honors each person’s strengths, stories, and small steps forward. Therapy becomes a space for curiosity, compassion, and meaningful change - a place where everyone in the family can feel a little more understood, and a little more at peace.