Get to know me

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

Starting therapy can feel like a big step, whether you’ve been thinking about it for years or made the decision recently because life became heavier than expected. Your first session with me is designed to be grounding, gentle, and welcoming. My goal is to create a space where you can breathe a little deeper, settle into yourself, and feel the relief of not having to hold everything alone. When we meet, you can expect a slow, steady, intentional pace. There is no pressure to “tell your whole story,” to be organized in your thoughts, or to know where to begin. Many people arrive unsure of how to articulate what they’re experiencing, or worried about becoming emotional. Others feel numb or disconnected. All of this is welcome—there is no wrong way to show up. We’ll begin with a brief check-in to settle your nervous system, often through a few quiet breaths or a moment of stillness. You don’t need to prepare anything; this time is simply about arriving. From there, I’ll ask open, gentle questions to understand what brings you to therapy. You may want to talk about a recent loss, a transition, anxiety, overwhelm, or a sense of being off-center. You may not know exactly what feels wrong, and that’s okay. Our work begins with making sense of things together. As you share, I’ll listen closely—not just to your words but to the emotions, themes, and hopes beneath them. We may explore what you’ve been carrying, how long it has felt this way, what makes it harder or easier, and how your body is responding. Tension, fatigue, restlessness, or trouble sleeping can be important clues. This helps us understand your experience somatically as well as emotionally. You are always in control of what you share. If something feels too raw, we won’t push it. If you need to slow down, take a pause, or sit quietly, that is more than okay. Your emotional safety is essential. At some point, we’ll talk about what you’re hoping to gain from therapy—more stability, clarity, ease, support through grief, or a deeper understanding of your patterns. You may simply want a place where you don’t have to hold everything alone. All of these are valid starting points. I’ll also explain my therapeutic approach so you know what working together may look like. I integrate talk therapy, somatic awareness, and grounding practices, using modalities like CBT, attachment-based therapy, and psychodynamic exploration. We’ll talk about how somatic tools support nervous-system regulation, how grief unf

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

What sets my therapeutic approach apart is the blend of deep compassion, clinical experience, and a mind–body framework that honors both emotional and physical experience. I don’t believe in quick fixes or one-size-fits-all solutions. Instead, I create a grounded, steady, and emotionally safe space where clients can explore their inner world without pressure or judgment. My work is relational, warm, somatically informed, and rooted in a genuine commitment to understanding the full depth of a person’s experience. Healing happens through connection—to ourselves, to our emotions, to our bodies, and to a supportive therapeutic relationship. Many of the clients I work with are people who have spent years being strong for everyone else. They often arrive overwhelmed, exhausted, or quietly burdened by grief or transitions. What stands out in my approach is my ability to meet each person exactly where they are, with gentleness and presence, and to walk with them through whatever they’re carrying. A unique part of my work is the integration of somatic awareness. With my background as a Pilates instructor and training in somatic psychotherapy, I understand how emotions live in the body. I help clients tune into their nervous system responses, release tension, and find grounding through breathwork, mindful movement, and body-based awareness. These practices help people reconnect with themselves in a deeply stabilizing way—especially those who feel stuck in their heads or overwhelmed by racing thoughts. My experience in hospice, palliative care, crisis work, and grief counseling also shapes my approach. These environments taught me how to sit with profound human emotion—grief, fear, guilt, anger, uncertainty—without rushing or minimizing it. I learned to hold space with steadiness, deep respect, and attunement. Clients often tell me they feel safer than they expected because they sense that I can hold their emotions without becoming overwhelmed or dismissive. I draw from multiple modalities—Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, psychodynamic therapy, attachment-based work, somatic practices, and Motivational Interviewing—weaving them together based on each client’s needs. Some people need deeper emotional exploration; others need practical tools and nervous-system grounding. Most benefit from both. I help clients understand their patterns, regulate their emotions, and develop a more compassionate relationship with themselves. Clients often describe my presence as calming

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

If you’re reading this, you may be moving through a season of life that feels heavier or more tender than you expected. You may be someone who has always been responsible, thoughtful, or strong for others—and suddenly, or quietly over time, the way you’ve been coping no longer feels sustainable. I work best with clients who feel overwhelmed by their internal world while still trying to move through life as if nothing has changed. You may be navigating grief, a major transition, or a period of self-doubt that has left you feeling ungrounded, exhausted, or unsure of how to move forward. Many of my clients are adults who are used to functioning at a high level but are now struggling with the emotional weight they’ve been carrying. You might find yourself saying, “I should be handling this better,” or “Why can’t I just get over this?” You may feel disconnected from others or from yourself, even if life looks fine on the surface. For some, the struggle is clear—like the loss of a loved one or a relationship ending. For others, it’s quieter: burnout, chronic stress, anxiety, or a growing sense that something isn’t working anymore. I am best positioned to serve people who know something inside them needs attention, even if they don’t know exactly what. You may want therapy not to “fix” something quickly but to understand yourself more deeply. You want space to breathe, reflect, and make sense of your feelings. You may be longing for clarity or a gentler way of relating to your thoughts and emotions. You’re seeking support that feels steady and collaborative—not directive or prescriptive. Many of my clients are grieving—sometimes the loss of a person, sometimes the loss of a former self, a dream, or a sense of certainty. You may be carrying emotions that feel contradictory: sadness and laughter, relief and guilt, numbness and overwhelm. You may worry others expect you to be okay long before you feel ready. I help you navigate these layers with compassion and without judgment. I also support people in significant life transitions—career changes, identity shifts, caregiving, midlife changes, children leaving home, illness, or relationship changes. These shifts can awaken old wounds, fears, or patterns, leaving you feeling unsteady. I work well with those seeking a more grounded inner foundation as they move through change. Another group I serve are individuals who feel disconnected from their bodies—those who overthink, feel constant tension, or struggle to slo