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

Your first session with me is a calm, structured, and supportive space where you don’t have to prepare anything or show up a certain way. My goal is to help you feel comfortable, understood, and in control of your own pace. We’ll spend our time getting to know what brings you in, what you’ve been carrying, and what you hope will feel different in your life. We start with a brief check‑in—how you’re arriving today, what’s been on your mind, and anything you want me to know right away. Some people come in ready to talk; others need a moment to settle in. Either way is completely okay. I’ll guide the conversation so you never feel like you have to figure out what to say next. From there, I’ll ask gentle, open‑ended questions to understand your history, current stressors, and the patterns or experiences that may be shaping how you feel. You’re always in charge of what you share. If something feels too heavy or too soon, we slow down. If you’re not sure where to start, I help you find a starting point that feels manageable. We’ll also talk about what you want from therapy—whether that’s relief from anxiety, support through grief, help navigating trauma, or simply a place to breathe and sort things out. Together, we’ll outline early goals that feel realistic and meaningful. These goals aren’t set in stone; they evolve as you do. Throughout the session, I’ll check in about how the process feels for you. Therapy works best when it feels like a collaboration, not an interview. You can ask questions, share concerns, or tell me if something isn’t landing. I welcome that kind of honesty because it helps us build a relationship that feels safe and effective. Before we wrap up, I’ll offer a brief summary of what we discussed, reflect the strengths I see in you, and outline what our next steps could look like. Many clients leave the first session feeling lighter—not because everything is solved, but because they finally have a place where they don’t have to hold everything alone. By the end, my hope is that you feel grounded, understood, and supported, with a clear sense of what working together will look like. You don’t have to be “ready,” you don’t have to have the perfect words, and you don’t have to know exactly what you need. You just have to show up as you are. We’ll take it from there, together.

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is my ability to create a space where people feel genuinely seen and respected. Many clients come in carrying years of stress, loss, or responsibility, and they’re used to minimizing their own needs. I’m skilled at helping people slow down, breathe, and reconnect with parts of themselves they’ve had to push aside just to get through the day. My presence is steady, warm, and grounding, which helps clients feel safe enough to explore difficult emotions without fear of judgment. Another strength I bring is clarity. I’m able to take complex emotional experiences—patterns, histories, trauma responses, relational dynamics—and translate them into language that feels understandable and empowering. Clients often tell me that I help them “make sense of things” in a way they’ve never been able to before. I don’t overwhelm people with jargon or theory; I meet them where they are and help them build insight at a pace that feels manageable. I’m also highly attuned to nuance. I listen not just to what someone says, but how they say it—the pauses, the tension, the shifts in tone, the moments where something important is hiding beneath the surface. This helps me ask the right questions, offer the right reflections, and guide clients toward deeper understanding without pushing them too far, too fast. My trauma‑informed approach is another core strength. I understand how the nervous system responds to overwhelm, how the body holds memory, and how survival strategies can become long‑term patterns. I help clients build regulation, safety, and self‑trust before diving into deeper work. This makes therapy feel safer, more sustainable, and more effective. I’m also skilled at balancing emotional depth with practical tools. Some days a client needs grounding techniques or cognitive strategies; other days they need space to grieve, process, or reflect. I adapt session by session, moment by moment, based on what will genuinely support the person in front of me. Finally, one of my most meaningful strengths is my belief in people’s resilience. I don’t see clients as broken or failing—I see them as doing the best they can with what they’ve lived through. I help them recognize their own strengths, reconnect with their values, and build a life that feels more stable, intentional, and self‑directed. My work is rooted in dignity, compassion, and the belief that healing is possible for everyone.

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

• Adults who are carrying more than they can comfortably hold. People who have been “strong” for too long, who rarely have a place to fall apart, and who are ready for support that feels steady, warm, and non‑judgmental. • Individuals navigating anxiety, overwhelm, or chronic stress. Clients who want both emotional understanding and practical tools to feel more grounded, regulated, and in control of their day‑to‑day life. • People healing from trauma—recent or long‑standing. Those who need a therapist who moves at their pace, prioritizes safety, and understands how the nervous system responds to overwhelm. • Adults in major life transitions. Clients experiencing grief, identity shifts, relationship changes, caregiving stress, career transitions, or the quiet disorientation that comes with “starting over.” • Highly responsible people who rarely ask for help. Professionals, caregivers, helpers, and leaders who are used to holding everything together and need a space where they don’t have to perform or be “on.” • Individuals who want clarity and emotional insight. Clients who appreciate a therapist who can help them understand patterns, name what’s happening beneath the surface, and make sense of their internal world. • People who value a collaborative, grounded approach. Those who want therapy to feel like a partnership—structured when needed, reflective when helpful, and always centered on dignity and respect. • Clients seeking a calm, steady presence. People who feel safer with a therapist who is patient, attuned, and able to hold complexity without rushing or overwhelming them.