LCSW, 5 years of experience
New to Grow
Hi, I’m Tish, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the founder of The Healing Human Collective. As a therapist, I’m passionate about creating a safe, supportive space where people can feel seen, heard, and empowered to grow. I use evidence-based approaches like CBT, ACT, DBT, and compassion-focused therapy while tailoring care to each person’s unique story. My goal is to walk alongside you as you build resilience, deepen self-understanding, and create a life that feels meaningful and aligned with your values.
During your first session, we’ll take time to get to know each other and understand your unique needs and goals. You can expect a safe, nonjudgmental space to share your story, explore what’s bringing you to therapy, and discuss any challenges you’re facing. I’ll explain my approach, answer your questions, and together we’ll begin creating a plan tailored to your growth, coping, and overall well-being. This session is all about laying the foundation for a collaborative and supportive therapeutic relationship.
I’m passionate about helping people feel seen, heard, and supported as they navigate life’s challenges. I combine practical, evidence-based tools with a compassionate, understanding approach to help clients manage anxiety, depression, trauma, and self-esteem struggles. My goal is to provide a safe space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings, build coping skills, and take steps toward a more meaningful, values-driven life.
I work best with clients who are ready to engage in personal growth, explore their thoughts and emotions, and take steps toward meaningful change. My ideal clients may be experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, identity-related challenges, relationship struggles, or difficulties with self-esteem and coping. I also provide gender-affirming care and support for clients navigating life transitions. Together, we focus on building resilience, developing practical skills, and creating a life that aligns with your values and goals.
At The Healing Human Collective, I frequently utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as a core treatment method. My experience with CBT has shown that it is highly effective in helping clients identify unhelpful thought patterns, challenge distorted beliefs, and build healthier coping strategies. In my practice, I use CBT in a collaborative and personalized way. Together with clients, we explore the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and then practice practical tools to interrupt cycles that may be keeping them stuck. This might include developing thought records, practicing reframing techniques, or introducing behavioral experiments to increase confidence and reduce avoidance. I’ve found that CBT is especially useful for clients experiencing anxiety, depression, self-esteem challenges, and trauma-related symptoms. While I lean on the structured framework of CBT, I also integrate it with a compassionate, whole-person approach that reflects the mission of The Healing Human Collective—supporting growth, healing, and empowerment.
In my clinical practice at The Healing Human Collective, I regularly use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as a foundation for supporting clients in developing psychological flexibility and living in alignment with their values. My experience with ACT has shown it to be especially effective for clients navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, and patterns of avoidance. I apply ACT through a holistic and client-centered process, incorporating the following core elements: Mindfulness and acceptance skills – guiding clients to observe and make space for their thoughts and emotions without judgment or suppression. Cognitive defusion – helping clients create distance from unhelpful thought patterns so they no longer dictate behavior. Values exploration – supporting clients in clarifying what truly matters to them, then using those values as a compass for decision-making and change. Committed action – developing and practicing practical steps that align with values, even in the presence of discomfort or challenges. I integrate ACT with a compassionate and collaborative approach, encouraging clients to build resilience, reduce struggle with internal experiences, and create more meaningful lives. This aligns closely with The Healing Human Collective’s mission to provide whole-person care that promotes growth, healing, and empowerment.
At The Healing Human Collective, I incorporate principles and interventions from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to support clients in building skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness. My experience with DBT has demonstrated its effectiveness with individuals struggling with mood disorders, trauma, self-esteem challenges, and difficulties in managing intense emotions or relationships. I use DBT both as a structured skill-building approach and as an adaptable framework that can be integrated into individual therapy. In practice, this includes: Mindfulness practices – increasing present-moment awareness and nonjudgmental acceptance. Distress tolerance skills – teaching clients tools to manage crises without making the situation worse. Emotion regulation strategies – helping clients better understand, label, and shift emotional responses. Interpersonal effectiveness techniques – supporting clients in setting boundaries, asking for needs, and maintaining healthy relationships. DBT provides clients with practical tools while also promoting self-compassion and balance, which aligns with The Healing Human Collective’s commitment to holistic healing and empowerment. My goal is to help clients move from reactivity to intentional living, where they can navigate life’s challenges with greater resilience and self-understanding.
In my practice at The Healing Human Collective, I integrate Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) to help clients cultivate greater self-compassion, reduce shame, and develop a more balanced relationship with themselves and others. My experience with CFT has shown it to be especially effective for individuals experiencing trauma, depression, anxiety, and high levels of self-criticism. CFT is grounded in neuroscience and evolutionary psychology, which highlight how our “threat system” can dominate our responses, often leading to patterns of shame, self-blame, and avoidance. I work with clients to activate their soothing system, fostering emotional safety and self-kindness. In practice, this includes: Psychoeducation – helping clients understand the roles of the threat, drive, and soothing systems in their emotional lives. Compassionate mind training – guiding clients in exercises that strengthen their ability to respond to themselves with care and understanding. Imagery and mindfulness practices – cultivating experiences of warmth, safety, and self-acceptance. Shame reduction – addressing and softening self-critical thinking patterns through compassionate reframing. Using CFT within a holistic framework allows me to empower clients to shift from cycles of self-judgment toward healthier, more compassionate ways of being. This aligns with The Healing Human Collective’s mission of fostering growth, resilience, and whole-person healing.
At The Healing Human Collective, I provide gender-affirming therapy that centers on validating and supporting clients in their authentic identities. My experience in this area has shown that affirming care not only improves mental health outcomes but also fosters resilience, self-acceptance, and empowerment for individuals across the gender spectrum. Gender-affirming therapy involves creating a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients can explore identity, expression, relationships, and transition-related needs at their own pace. In my practice, this may include: Exploration of identity – supporting clients in understanding and embracing their gender identity and expression. Affirmation and validation – countering internalized stigma by honoring each client’s lived experience. Support with transition-related care – providing letters of support when appropriate, collaborating with medical providers, and helping clients navigate social or medical transitions. Family and relational support – assisting families and partners in developing understanding and communication that affirms the client’s identity. Integrating affirming approaches with evidence-based modalities – blending gender-affirming care with CBT, ACT, DBT, and CFT to meet the unique needs of each client. This work is rooted in compassion, respect, and advocacy, aligning with The Healing Human Collective’s mission of creating inclusive, holistic care that honors the whole person.