Get to know me

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

I know that starting counseling can feel like both a relief and a risk. Many people arrive at their first session with a mix of hope and nervousness—hopeful for change, but unsure of what it will be like to sit down with someone new and begin sharing their story. My goal in our first session is to make that step feel a little less intimidating by creating a space that is safe, steady, and welcoming. We’ll begin with simple introductions. If we’re meeting in person, I’ll invite you into an office designed to feel more like a living room than a clinic—calm, comfortable, and warm. If we’re meeting via telehealth, I’ll make sure the process of logging in is easy and that you feel comfortable using the platform. I’ll also take a few minutes to explain how our sessions work, what counseling looks like with me, and what you can expect moving forward. Next, we’ll go over the basics—things like informed consent, confidentiality, and policies. This might not be the most exciting part, but it’s important. I want you to feel confident knowing your privacy is protected, your rights are respected, and you’re in control of your counseling journey. From there, the session shifts to you. I’ll invite you to share what brought you to counseling. Some clients dive right in with their story, while others need time and gentle questions to get started. Either way is perfectly okay. I may ask about what you’ve been struggling with, when you first noticed these challenges, and what you hope to gain from counseling. But you don’t have to have polished answers—this is a space where you can simply show up as you are. Throughout our conversation, I’ll listen carefully, reflect back what I hear, and begin to notice themes or patterns. I’ll share a little about how I work—using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)—so you understand how these approaches can help you build tools, make sense of your experiences, and start moving toward the life you want. Together, we’ll begin to clarify your values—the things that matter most to you—and talk about how those can guide the work we’ll do. By the end of the session, we’ll start sketching out your goals. You might not know them fully yet, and that’s okay. Sometimes the first step is simply naming that you want life to feel different, steadier, or more meaningful. We’ll talk about what moving forward could look like, whether that’s weekly sessions or something that fits your schedule better.

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

One of my greatest strengths as a counselor is authenticity. I show up as my full self, not just as a professional trained in ACT and CBT, but as a woman and Momma who has walked through divorce, rediscovery, blending a family, and seasons of putting myself last. These lived experiences give me deep empathy for clients who feel stretched thin, unseen, or stuck. Clients often describe me as warm, genuine, and straightforward. I create a safe, steady space where you can share openly while also being gently challenged to grow. My strength lies in listening deeply, noticing patterns, and helping you reconnect with your values so that your choices and actions line up with what matters most. My faith also grounds me in my work. I believe in grace, redemption, and new beginnings, and that belief allows me to hold hope for my clients even in their hardest seasons. For those who want it, faith can be integrated into counseling; for others, I honor and respect their unique worldview. Another unique strength is my commitment to serving rural communities where stigma around mental health can still run deep. I want my practice to feel approachable, compassionate, and rooted in connection. At the core, my greatest strength is that I care deeply. I consider it a privilege to sit with clients in their most vulnerable moments, honoring their stories and helping them discover resilience, clarity, and freedom.

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

My dream client is someone who carries a lot on their shoulders. On the outside, they often look like they have it all together—managing work, family, responsibilities, and relationships—but inside, they feel stretched thin, unseen, or stuck in patterns they don’t know how to break. They are strong and capable, but that strength sometimes means they’ve gotten used to putting their own needs last. Maybe she’s a Momma who gives everything to her family but feels like she’s lost touch with herself along the way. She wants to rediscover who she is outside of caregiving, obligations, or other people’s expectations. Maybe he’s a husband or father carrying silent pressures, unsure how to talk about the weight of stress or grief without feeling like a burden. My dream client might be part of a blended family, navigating the delicate balance of love, loyalty, and complicated dynamics that don’t always look like the picture-perfect version of family. Or they may be walking through loss, transition, or big life changes that have left them questioning who they are and where they’re headed. My dream client doesn’t have to know all the answers. In fact, many come to me unsure of exactly what they want from counseling, only that they can’t keep living the way things are. What they do have is a willingness to show up and be curious about what change could look like. They might be nervous, skeptical, or even a little scared, but deep down they know they’re ready to explore new ways of coping and living. They are someone who values authenticity. They’re tired of wearing masks, pretending they’re fine, or living by other people’s standards. They want to feel more like themselves—whether that means rediscovering who they once were, or becoming who they’ve always longed to be. They’re ready to look at their values—the things that matter most to them, like family, faith, growth, or connection—and begin making choices that line up with those values, even if it means doing uncomfortable work along the way. My dream client wants a counselor who will be warm and understanding, but also honest and real. They don’t want clichés or a quick fix. They want a safe space to lay down their burdens, process their story, and be gently challenged to grow. They want someone who will sit beside them without judgment, while also encouraging them to take small, meaningful steps toward healing.

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