LCSW, 1 years of experience
New to Grow
I’m a mental health professional with experience providing care in both military and civilian settings, supporting individuals through a wide range of challenges including trauma, stress, and life transitions. My approach is rooted in empathy, authenticity, and evidence-based practices. I bring not only clinical training but also lived experience—having overcome adversity shaped by both life circumstances and my own past choices. This allows me to connect with clients in a real and nonjudgmental way, creating space for growth, healing, and change.
The initial session is structured to create a safe, nonjudgmental space where the client feels seen and heard. Time is spent building rapport through open, empathetic conversation, allowing the client to begin sharing their story at a comfortable pace. During the session, I gather relevant background information including presenting concerns, personal and family history, trauma exposure, medical or psychiatric history, substance use, and current functioning across key life areas (e.g., relationships, work/school, sleep, mood). As trust begins to form, I gently explore the client’s goals for therapy and collaboratively identify initial treatment priorities. We begin discussing how specific approaches (such as CBT, ACT, or trauma-informed care) may align with their needs. I introduce the concept of a treatment plan, framed as a flexible roadmap, and ensure the client’s voice is central in shaping goals that feel realistic, relevant, and meaningful to them. Throughout the session, I remain attuned to emotional safety and pace, reinforcing that therapy is a collaborative process. By the end of the first session, clients typically leave with a sense of direction, hope, and clarity about the therapeutic relationship and what to expect moving forward.
One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is my ability to truly be there—to show up fully, with presence, empathy, and nonjudgment. I create a space where clients feel safe enough to be real, even when it’s hard or uncomfortable. I don’t shy away from pain, silence, or vulnerability. I sit with people in their darkest moments, not just as a clinician, but as someone who understands what it means to fall—and to get back up.
My ideal client is someone who may feel stuck, overwhelmed, or weighed down by past experiences—but is still holding on to the hope that things can get better. They might be carrying guilt, shame, or trauma, whether from childhood, military service, or difficult life choices. They’re often high-functioning on the outside but struggling internally with trust, emotional regulation, or a sense of direction. They may not have all the answers (or even the right questions yet), but they’re open to doing the work—showing up honestly, even if it's messy. I work best with clients who are ready to face themselves with curiosity rather than judgment, and who are willing to try new ways of thinking and living, even when it's uncomfortable. I value authenticity and directness, and I bring that into the therapy room. Whether someone is navigating the long road of healing from trauma, trying to break generational cycles, or simply trying to be a better version of themselves.
In practice, I use CBT to help clients recognize the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This includes identifying and challenging distorted or unhelpful thoughts and working toward replacing them with more balanced and adaptive thinking.
I incorporate ACT principles to help clients move away from attempts to control or eliminate painful internal experiences and instead cultivate a willingness to observe these experiences without judgment.