New to Grow
My work as a licensed psychologist is grounded in the belief that people heal best when they feel heard, supported, and connected to their inherent strengths. Because no one is defined by the challenges they’re facing or a learned, unhealthy, and inaccurate view of themselves. Instead, it's that inherent strength that has gotten you to the point of reflection and recognition that you can and deserve to feel better. Over the past two decades, working at the intersection of mental health, community wellness, and systems change, this belief has guided me in nearly every setting. Yet it’s in the one‑on‑one session where this foundation matters most. My goal is to show up authentically, offer steady support, and work collaboratively to help you jmove toward greater clarity, resilience, and purpose. Whether we’re exploring a specific concern or navigating the many challenges life puts before you, my aim is to normalize the journey while helping you focus on what feels most important. And when challenges arise, we don’t view them through a deficit or blaming lens. Instead, we work together to build healthier, more sustainable ways of coping. And though the path can be challenging at times, a bit of levity or humor may surface when it’s helpful — because therapy isn’t only about what we want to change, but also about reconnecting with the emotional states we hope to cultivate. While much of this shows up in my clinical work, it’s also reflected in my broader commitments — advocating for the environment, supporting communities often dismissed or misunderstood, and using writing and organizing to amplify voices and foster connection. These experiences shape who I am and what drives my work. They’re not always front‑and‑center, but do create a compassionate backdrop where trust can grow, dialogue can unfold, and healing can happen.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
It’s safe to say that people come into a first session with a wide range of expectations. While those vary from person to person, my approach is to be available, receptive, and grounded regardless of what you’re looking for. The session unfolds at a gradual pace, giving you time to settle in, get oriented to the office, and get a sense of who I am and how I work. As with any appointment, we’ll set aside a few minutes to review the required paperwork—consent forms, privacy information, and any questionnaires you completed. If you have questions about any of these, we’ll take the time to talk them through. From there, we’ll begin exploring what brings you in, your background, and what you’re hoping to get from therapy. This includes your goals, concerns, and any preferences you have for how we work together. As the process continues, we’ll also check in on how you’re feeling and talk through anything that may have come up between sessions. At the end of the day, the aim is for therapy to be a place where you can sit down, exhale, and explore the concerns that prompted you to reach out—while keeping a clear eye on what you want to achieve. You feeling comfortable, even while exploring challenging parts of your life or current circumstance is essential, and I’ll do my part to help make that beginning feel steady and supportive.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
When it comes to my work as a psychologist, it extends beyond training and experience. Much of what I offer is shaped by what I bring into each session—qualities that help round out the clinical work. This includes authenticity, a dedication to each client, and a sincere intention to support the people I’m honored to serve. Along the way, I work carefully to build trust and rapport, and when needed, to answer questions and meet people where they are. And while my training is largely traditional in nature, I've learned, and lived in no uncertain terms, the value of integrating other aspects into recommended interventions. This includes encouraging self-care, connection to nature, finding a sense of purpose and grounding oneself with oft-overlooked resources in the community, and within yourself. And if it ever seems like a different approach or level of care would be more helpful, I’ll collaborate with you to connect with other resources or providers who may better meet that need. Because at the end of the day, what matters most is the person sitting across from me—their goals, their aspirations, and also their past experiences and coping styles, and how all of these can come together to help them feel more grounded, capable, and hopeful about what lies ahead.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
It’s important to recognize that anyone seeking therapy has already revealed something meaningful about themselves. They’ve acknowledged that something in their life needs attention, and they’ve also recognized their own capacity to do something about it. That combination of awareness, reflection, and willingness is all that’s needed to get the process started. For that reason, my ideal client is anyone who has taken that first step toward addressing something challenging in their life. Many people begin therapy with hesitation or uncertainty, but the act of reaching out already shows they have what it takes to engage in the therapeutic process, take a collaborative role in their treatment, and recognize how their own efforts contribute to progress—both in therapy and in the rest of their life. I also believe it’s important for clients to be open and candid about their doubts, concerns, or questions about therapy itself. This time is your time, and the honest exchange of ideas—even uncertainty—is part of the work. Therapy is a space where those conversations can be practiced safely and without judgment. Another key quality of the “ideal client” is someone who is receptive to understanding that they are not defined by their trauma, loss, or doubts or any myriad of issues they are facing. These experiences may shape aspects of life, but they do not determine a person’s identity or future. What matters is the willingness to explore these experiences with openness—not to assign blame or fault, but to understand how certain beliefs or patterns developed, and to gradually take ownership of defining what they mean going forward. Not from a place of fear or doubt, but from a place of dedication, determination, and possibility.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
This approach has been the backbone of much of my work as a psychologist. I've found that CBT helps us create a framework, but also create space for deeper themes and patterns to emerge — the kinds of insights that often point us toward additional approaches or perspectives. These moments become opportunities to explore underlying beliefs, understand where they came from, and to think about new ways of responding that support greater clarity and meaningful course correction.
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
Much like Cognitive Behavioral strategies RET, when relevant for the issue at hand, has helped clients feel a sense of agency and take a more proactive stance at how concerns are impacting their lives, and compelling them to challenges these beliefs and the narratives that come with it.
Eclectic
I've found that eclectic therapy allows me to adapt, as needed and when relevent by integrating different tools as a client’s needs evolve. It’s a fairly collaborative and responsive approach, while being firmly rooted in the belief that people benefit most when therapy is tailored to them rather than the other way around.
Positive Psychology
I've found that one of the benefits of positive psychology is that it highlights what we are aiming for, rather than focusing solely on what we’re trying to change. More importantly, it emphasizes the inherent strengths, resilience, and abilities each of us carries — qualities that can be cultivated to support meaningful growth. I've witnessed in therapy that this approach can be felt as inspiring, especially when the focus has long been on ‘what’s wrong’ instead of considering ‘what’s right’ that may be waiting just beneath the surface.