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

Our first session is really about getting to know each other. I'll want to understand what brought you in, including some history and context around what you've been experiencing, so I can get a sense of what would be most helpful for you going forward. I also like to learn about who you are as a person: your values, how you make meaning, what your life looks like, because that context shapes everything about how we work together. I have things I want to cover, but I try not to make it feel like an intake form. More often than not the conversation flows naturally and we end up getting where we need to go anyway. My hope is that you leave the first session feeling like you've been heard, and with a clearer sense of what our work together might look like.

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

Clients often tell me that they feel at ease pretty quickly, which I think comes down to the calm and grounded energy I try to bring into the room. Therapy can feel intimidating, especially in the beginning, and I work hard to make it feel like a conversation rather than an evaluation. I'm also told I ask good questions, the kind that help people think in a direction that feels useful rather than overwhelming. That matters especially when we're exploring difficult territory like deep trauma or grief. I want clients to feel safe enough to go to the hard places, and supported enough to stay grounded when they do. What continues to inspire me about trauma and grief specifically is how universal they are. Very few people will move through a lifetime without encountering both. There is something deeply humanizing about that, and it feels meaningful to spend my career walking alongside people in those moments. I've walked my own path through suffering, both alone and with the support of a good therapist, and I know the difference it makes to have someone in your corner who truly gets it. I work hard to connect with my clients human-to-human to earn their trust so that we can achieve the kind of openness that is important for healing.

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

You don't need to arrive at therapy feeling ready or certain. Many of my clients come in feeling hesitant, overwhelmed, or unsure where to start, and that's completely okay. What tends to help is a kind of openness and curiosity about yourself and how your mind works. I often describe our work together as exploration and experimentation rather than a fixed program, and clients who can lean into that tend to find it rewarding, even when it's hard. My ideal clients are people navigating some of life's harder experiences: Grief and loss, trauma, major transitions, or the unexpected emotional weight that can come with pregnancy and postpartum. I also work with couples at all kinds of crossroads, whether that's rebuilding trust, improving communication, or simply figuring out what they want for their relationship. I work with adults, adolescents ages 14+, and couples.