(she/her)
As a member of the LGBTQ+ community and someone with a long history in conservative Christian spaces, I know that it can be scary to reach out to a therapist. Life itself often feels uncertain. What I believe is that even in ambiguity, you already know what you need next. When you're ready, it would be my honor to help you along the way. I grew up in a small WA farm town within an insulated conservative Christian denomination. Before I had the courage and clarity to come out of the closet, I worked as an ordained pastor for two decades. Therapy is my second profession, and it is a much better fit! I love it because I get to be real and help my clients do the same.
Our first session will feel a little different from the rest. We'll get to know each other just a bit, and I'll ask you a bunch of questions about your life experiences (some of which you might put off until future sessions). After that, we will craft a plan together for how we will use our time in therapy to be the most helpful for you. I work collaboratively with every patient to clarify what you want to gain out of therapy, and then agree on a plan that will help you get there. I have lots of knowledge, wisdom, and experience - but you are the expert of your own life. Along the way, I see flexibility as an asset to allow for adjusting our approach as symptoms change.
My "mother tongue" in therapy is DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy), which is an amazing evidence-based approach that provides a lovely mix of mindfulness practices with practical skills. Stylistically, I also draw on Motivational Interviewing techniques, attachment-therapy, postmodern approaches, and have been trained in DBTPE for trauma. You're much more likely to hear me say, "That's understandable, I can see how you might've reacted that way...", than "Why you'd do THAT?!?" At my core, I'm deeply empathetic and curious -- these characteristics guide how I show up in the room. My voice is calm and compassionate -- yet strong and encouraging.
I love working with folks facing decisions and transitions of every kind -- whether related to love or physical bodies, employment or living situation, education or personal values -- I find myself at home when I'm helping folks listen deeply and move forward courageously. I work with people in all kinds of romantic and sexual relationships, LGBTQ people of every stripe (especially the gender-diverse), those who are autistic and otherwise neurodivergent, adolescents and adults.
I identify as
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I've been trained and supervised in DBT, been trained in DBTPE, and have led a DBT skills group for more than three years.
Gender-affirming therapy
Practicing for multiple years at a LGBTQ community center, and part of the community myself.
Gottman method
Multiple years practicing and learning the gottman method, with queer and straight couples.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Multiple years practicing and learning the EFCT with queer and straight couples.