New to Grow
My practice is grounded in the belief that the therapeutic relationship is the essential ingredient for change. Relational therapy prioritizes human connection as the starting point for healing, accessing vulnerabilities, exploring identities, processing trauma, and healing childhood wounds. I have worked in the field of relationship violence, sexual violence, childhood abuse, and interpersonal trauma for over 10 years and am passionate about advocating for survivors' rights and changes to the systems that uphold and enforce gender-based violence.
I believe in the value of intentionally taking time to build a relationship with clients. My practice is client-driven, so we move at a pace dictated by the client and initially focus on the client's therapeutic goals, including prioritizing any immediate emotional or resource needs.
I have extensive experience working withing the various systems that trauma survivors often intersect with, including child protection, court systems, law enforcement, and related social service providers. I understand the additional harm/trauma caused by system navigation and have years of experience in domestic violence, sexual violence, and sexual exploitation/trafficking. Survivors of trauma experience normal reactions to harmful things that have happened to them, but are often blamed for their responses and mental health. I emphasize taking a non-pathologizing approach to trauma-informed care.
I have a special interest in working with clients that are curious about themselves and open to deconstructing common societal messages and expectations that influence how we navigate our lives. And for all you pet parents out there, I have a special interest in how our pets can teach us about ourselves and heal our hearts. The majority of my professional experience is in sexual and relationship violence, childhood abuse/emotional neglect. I focus on addressing the mind/body connection work (somatic healing) and using a person-centered approach to work through grief and trauma.
Gender-affirming therapy
My practice affirms and supports clients' individual gender identity. I have clinical experience walking with clients through gender exploration, relationship management, and identity navigation.
Relational
As a provider, I believe that no therapeutic approach will be effective without a client/provider relationship that includes trust, vulnerability, and support. The relationship is the foundation for growth and healing.
Cognitive Processing (CPT)
I have experience working with clients that have experienced complex trauma throughout the lifespan, including childhood abuse/neglect, relationship violence, and sexual violence. I utilize somatic and mindfulness techniques to support clients in processing trauma.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
My therapeutic approach is grounded in creating a empathetic, compassionate, and non-judgmental environment for clients to explore their own self-discovery.
Trauma Informed Care
I believe an effective therapist is not only trained in working through individual traumatic experiences, but also acknowledging and accounting for the trauma enacted by social systems of oppression, racism, sexism, ablism, and inequitable access to opportunities and resources.