LCSW, 20 years of experience
Life burning down around you? Cool, grab a seat. Cry, laugh, drop a few F-bombs. You’re safe here. Welcome to therapy! I’m a therapist a professor, and a real human who’s lived through real things. I don’t do this work from a distance. I’ve moved through anxiety and depression. I’ve grieved the loss of people I love. I’ve gone through divorce. I’m raising a child with special needs… and all of that shapes how I show up for you. In my therapy space, we slow down. We breathe. We talk honestly. We laugh sometimes. We grieve sometimes. And we make room for the parts of you that you’ve had to hide to survive.
In our first session, my goal is to create a calm conversational space where you can share what brings you to therapy and what you hope to get out of it. We’ll talk about your history, relationships, and any patterns you’ve noticed that may be contributing to your stress or emotional struggles. I’ll ask questions to understand your story in context: your culture, values, and experiences, and together we’ll begin identifying goals for our work. You can expect me to be curious, and collaborative. I don’t rush the process or focus solely on “fixing” symptoms. Instead, I help you understand the why behind your feelings and behaviors so you can respond differently over time.
Going to therapy can be scary. You’re pouring your whole life out to someone you don’t know yet. You’re sharing things you’ve never said out loud. That takes vulnerability and courage. And if I’m being honest? I get nervous sometimes too. Not in a bad way, but in a humbled, human way. People trust me to hold some of the most difficult and complicated parts of their lives. I consider that an honor, and I take that seriously. Every time you show up, I want to be a good vessel for that — someone who holds your story with care and compassion, and without judgment.
You might be dealing with anxiety, depression, or the stress of juggling relationships, family, and work. Maybe you’re in the middle of a big life transition, or maybe you’re just plain tired of carrying so much on your own. You might be a trauma survivor. Whoever you are, you’re someone who’s ready to face your struggles and fears and work with me to find a way forward.
- Exploring childhood experiences and family patterns, connecting them to current relational struggles. - Focusing on the emotional and attachment dynamics between parents, partner, and children.
- Integrating tracking and journaling to help observe triggers, thoughts, and behaviors in real time. - Helping to identify automatic thoughts and test them against reality. - Setting measurable behavioral goals, like setting boundaries, practicing emotional naming, or using grounding tools.
- Helping to notice and name emotions rather than intellectualize them or avoid them. - Helping to accept emotional discomfort as a natural part of growth while identifying values-based actions (e.g., being present with family in a more authentic way). - Emphasizing self-compassion and awareness rather than “fixing” or suppressing feelings.