(they/them)
New to Grow
Hello, my name is Ace (they/them or ze/hir pronouns) and I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who specializes in the intersections of disability, neurodivergence, and LGBTQ+ identity. Have you ever wished you could talk about your concerns without having to give a 101 level lecture first? Are you struggling to find treatment as an Autistic adult or an adult with ADHD? Whether you're undiagnosed, questioning, newly diagnosed, or just looking for some extra support, I'm here to meet you where you're at with tools and strategies that work. I'm a queer, Autistic, non-binary psychologist of color and I've spent the last seven years learning to provide support to members of my communities as they navigate systems of care not built for us. I believe that therapy should be collaborative and consensual, that evidence-based treatment must honor culture and neurotype, and that gender-affirming care is a human right. If you're struggling to build a system of supports and accommodations that will allow you to thrive, if you're questioning your gender or sexuality and need a guide, or if you're just looking for a safer space to process the everyday stresses of your life. You are welcome here.
I have structured my practice in such a way that our first session is a clinical intake. I will ask you a lot of questions about who you are and what brings you to therapy, then we'll start to establish some goals to work towards. Don't worry if you're not entirely sure what you want or need, we will explore that together. We'll spend some time just getting to know each other, and you will have time to ask any questions or express any concerns you have about starting therapy.
I am an Autistic adult with a special interest in working with Autism and ADHD in adults. I have a lot of experience in navigating wibbly-wobbly gender stuff and have extensive training in LGBTQ+ affirmative therapies. As a disability-affirming therapist, I have a massive toolkit of coping skills, self-accommodations, and psychological knowledge. I'm sensitive to the things my clients have tried before and the strengths they bring to their own treatment. I value accurate empathy and ensuring that the relationship between patient and therapist is built on a foundation of mutual respect and understanding. My approach to therapy is explicitly anti-racist and liberation focused. I am continuously working to acknowledge my own privilege and biases, and how my worldview and experiences might affect my relationship with each of my clients. This means that we can get right to the work of helping you feel and function better in your day-to-day life. I often work in a solution-focused or time-limited frame work. Sometimes this means setting a defined number of sessions we'll meet for and sometimes it means we'll set specific measurable goals to work towards and use them to measure your progress and readiness to move on. My goal as your therapist is to ensure you are safe and well, and have the tools you need to handle whatever challenges may come your way.
My clients are often those wrestling with questions of identity and individuals who have or suspect they have some form of disability or neurodivergence. I work with Autistic people who need some supports to function at their best and the full spectrum of individuals with ADHD. I often see young adults navigating college and career transitions, including graduate students and early career professionals. Many of my clients are transgender or non-binary, though gender may or may not be what brings them to therapy. Most of my clients have experienced systemic oppression based on one or more of their identities. Some people come into my care later in life after deciding to explore some aspect of their identity or after a child has come out or been identified as Autistic/ADHD. I see LGBTQIAP2S+ adults, those who have recently seroconverted (are HIV+), and adults living with chronic illness.
Other specialties
I identify as
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
My clinical training is broadly cognitive-behavioral. We'll work together to identify problems and create goals to work towards. We'll use tools from CBT to recognize how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact to produce your lived reality. We'll then use that knowledge to challenge unhelpful patterns of thinking and acting.
Gender-affirming therapy
I've been trained in multiple gender-affirming approaches and I have four years of supervised experience by experts in gender-affirming psychotherapy. Gender-affirming therapy can be a simple affirmation of your gender as a singular aspect of your identity or a structured approach to exploring gender identity or expression in therapy. I have worked with many transgender, non-binary, and intersex individuals, as well as cisgender and gender-questioning people figuring out how gender is present in their lives.
Multicultural
Culture is an important part of who we are and how we move about the world, and many of us stand at the intersections of multiple cultural identities. I use multicultural therapy approaches to integrate information about your ethnic background, family history, values, and personal identities into our work together. I recognize that my own cultural identities impact the work that I do and strive to practice cultural humility and curiosity within the evidence-based treatments I use.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy is an evidence-based, goal-directed, and strengths-based therapy that seeks to address a specific concern occurring in the present. I use solution-focused interventions to help identify what you're already doing that's working and build tools and strategies to get you through the challenges you're experiencing right now. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy is particularly helpful in situations when time is limited and relief is needed right away.