Get to know me

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

Walking into that first therapy session can bring up a lot of feelings...excitement, nervousness, and maybe even a little skepticism. I want you to know that the main goal of our first meeting is simple, connection and safety. This session is not about deep trauma work or solving all your problems in 53 minutes. It's about getting to know each other and making sure we feel like a genuine fit. What to Expect 1. A Warm Welcome and Setting the Stage: I will start by welcoming you and walking you through the practical aspects of therapy, such as confidentiality, my approach to care, and the structure of our sessions. This ensures we both have a clear understanding of the therapeutic container. You can expect a relaxed, judgment-free environment right from the start. 2. You Lead the Way: Our first session is primarily driven by you. I want to hear about what brought you in, in your own words. You get to decide how much or how little you want to share. We might touch on: Your Hopes and Goals: What does thriving look like to you? What is the feeling or change you are truly seeking? Current Concerns: What feels most pressing in your life right now, the issues that are causing the most stress or pain? Your Journey So Far: A brief overview of your background, relationships, identity, and any previous experiences with therapy (good, bad, or indifferent!). Remember, you never have to share anything you are not ready to share. As a trauma-informed therapist, I respect your pace and boundaries above all else. 3. Understanding Our Partnership: I will spend some time sharing more about my relational approach and how I integrate various modalities to support healing from trauma and identity-based wounds. This will help you understand the why behind what we do. We will talk about therapy as a collaborative partnership where we both show up authentically. I’ll make sure to leave plenty of space for you to ask me any questions you might have about my experience, my philosophy, or the process itself. The Takeaway By the end of our first session, you should leave feeling heard, validated, and having a clearer sense of direction. The goal is that you feel safe enough to trust that we can do this important work together. If we both feel that authentic connection, the necessary ingredient for deep healing, we can then move forward with scheduling and beginning the deeper therapeutic journey. My commitment is to meet you with empathy, warmth, and realness. Take a deep brea

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

What truly sets my therapeutic approach apart is the commitment to realness and the belief that the quality of our relationship is the engine of healing. You deserve a therapist who shows up as a genuine human being, and that’s what I offer. Clients often come to me after feeling disconnected or misunderstood in previous therapy experiences. They stay because they find a space where the guard can drop, and the deep, often complex work of integration and repair can finally begin. Here are the key strengths and defining characteristics of my approach: 1. Authenticity and Relational Depth Therapy as Partnership, Not Prescription: I view our work as an active, collaborative partnership. I don’t believe in being a blank slate or offering standardized advice. Instead, I bring my genuine self, including my warmth, occasional humor, and professional honesty, into the room. This models what a secure, authentic relationship feels like, a vital experience, especially for those who have experienced relational trauma or abandonment. No Code-Switching Required: My primary strength is creating a space where you can show up fully, without the need to mask or minimize any part of yourself, whether that's your trauma history, your queer identity, your neurodivergent experience, or your deepest emotional truths. This radical permission to be you is where true self-acceptance takes root. 2. Specialized Expertise in Complex Wounds Trauma-Informed and Identity-Affirming: My practice is deeply rooted in trauma-informed care. I understand that past experiences don't just reside in your memory; they are stored in your nervous system. I specialize in working with complex, early-life, and identity-based trauma, particularly with: Survivors of Childhood Trauma: Helping you move from hypervigilance and disconnection to a place of inner safety and grounded regulation. The Queer/Gay Community: Offering culturally competent, affirming support for navigating identity, relationships, chosen family, and minority stress. Highly Sensitive & Neurodivergent Individuals: Recognizing and affirming the unique ways you process the world, offering strategies to manage sensory overwhelm, communication differences, and the exhaustion of masking. My ability to hold space for these intersecting complexities allows for a comprehensive, holistic approach to your healing journey. 3. Focus on Integration and Wholeness Integration as the Goal: The work we do is aimed at integration, bringing all t

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

I work best with individuals who feel ready to confront the patterns that have kept them stuck and who are seeking a profound, authentic change in how they relate to themselves and the world. My ideal clients are not looking for quick fixes or surface level solutions, they are ready for a deep dive into self-exploration, emotional honesty, and relational healing. You might be my ideal client if you identify with some of the following experiences, concerns, or goals: Navigating Trauma and Identity You are a trauma survivor: You carry the residual weight of childhood trauma, complex trauma (C-PTSD), or significant life events that still impact your relationships, self-worth, and daily functioning. You are tired of feeling triggered, vigilant, or constantly on edge, and you want to feel safe and regulated in your own body. You are seeking an affirming space: As a member of the queer community (LGBTQIA+) or someone exploring your identity, you need a therapist who doesn't just tolerate but actively affirms and understands the unique intersectional challenges, minority stress, and search for belonging you face. You feel "othered" or highly sensitive: You may have experienced feeling fundamentally different, misunderstood, or overly sensitive throughout your life. This could be related to being neurodivergent (e.g., adult ADHD, autism spectrum), or simply having an intense emotional landscape that others struggled to accommodate. You want a therapist who understands the complexity of masking and the effort it takes to navigate a world that doesn't fit you. You are a man exploring your emotional landscape: You are ready to unpack the social pressures of masculinity, seeking permission and space to embrace vulnerability, express a fuller range of emotions, and develop authentic, non-performative connections. Concerns and Mindset Ready for Recovery and Wholeness: You are in addiction recovery or grappling with persistent self-destructive behaviors, and you recognize that the root of these issues is often unaddressed pain or trauma. You are committed to building a compassionate, stable foundation for lasting sobriety or behavioral change. Struggles with Relationship Patterns: You find yourself stuck in cycles of people-pleasing, boundary-setting challenges, or difficulty forming deep, secure attachments. You are ready to understand how past relational wounds influence your current friendships, romantic partnerships, and family dynamics. You value depth and