LPC, 11 years of experience
New to Grow
I am passionate about providing a safe space for individuals, couples, poly units, and families to find their innate potential and achieve their dreams, regardless of gender, orientation, race, religion, or love-style. I feel called to help people find internal and external peace by living and loving more authentically. I believe everyone is unique and has the potential to create the life of their dreams. I believe everyone is capable of love for their self and others. Everyone deserves empathy and support free of judgment. I believe diversity is a beautiful thing and should be celebrated.
First session will include a review of confidentiality, practice policies, general get-to-know-you questions, and an opportunity to learn about me as a clinician.
I've been told by many that my relaxed, warm presence makes working with me really comfortable. I've also been described as a natural energy worker; clients bring their pain to my office and leave it here, it's not there anymore when they return. I'm gentle and validating when the emotions are heavy or overwhelming and not afraid to be direct or firm when the current spiral is more harmful than helpful.
I particularly enjoy long-term psychotherapy with clients who have developed an insecure attachment style and poor sense of self because unlearning societal restrictions, healing their trauma, and making a life and self that truly works for them is my greatest joy in life. I tend to collect clients who are particularly neurodivergent, LGBTQ, spiritual rather than religious, and looking for authentic connections in their lives and their hearts.
I base all of my work in a foundation of ACT, utilizing Polyvagal Theory, to increase my clients’ psychological flexibility - contacting the present moment fully as a conscious human being and changing or persisting in behavior based on chosen values.
Polyvagal theory/therapy guides my clients in understanding their emotions and physiological symptoms in order to better understand what's going on in the present moment, how to identify their emotions, how to regulate their nervous system in order to make better informed decisions that align with their values.
I find that IFS is a helpful way for creative and complex clients to integrate polyvagal theory of stress responses with attachment theory in healing their relationship with their own knowing, feeling, self.
I particularly love helping people transitioning from a conceptualized self based on societal and familial expectations to an idealized sense of self based on their true nature. We at Love Positive Counseling are passionate about helping transgender and gender nonconforming youth (13-26), adults and their families who are discovering their identity and individuality.
I also incorporate Family Systems Theory and Attachment Theory in both individual and relationship therapy. Our family experience greatly influences the way we relate with people in the present day. Understanding our most influential relationships can bring understanding and love for our self.