(they/them)
New to Grow
I’m a person-centered therapist who values building a strong, collaborative relationship as the foundation for meaningful change. I aim to create a supportive space where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered to explore identity, relationships, and personal growth in a way that feels authentic to them. I hold a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Mercer University and have experience supporting clients through a range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma, mood disorders, and substance use. I have a particular passion for working with LGBTQIA+ clients and other marginalized communities, and I bring both professional training and lived experience as a gender-fluid person to my work. Outside of therapy, I’m a proud nerd, whether that means diving into Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, getting lost in video games, or deeply analyzing fantasy worlds and storytelling. I also tend to talk about my wife more than is probably necessary, and I think that appreciation for connection and everyday joy naturally shows up in how I work with clients. My goal is to help people feel more like themselves in their own lives, not less.
Your first session is a chance for us to start building a foundation together. We’ll talk about what brought you to therapy, any challenges or patterns you’ve been noticing, and what you would like support with moving forward. I’ll also ask some background questions so I can better understand you as a whole person, not just the concerns bringing you in. There’s no expectation to have everything figured out or to open up all at once. My goal is to create a space where you can show up as yourself, ask questions, and begin exploring things at a pace that feels comfortable for you.
One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is creating a space where clients feel genuinely comfortable, accepted, and able to be themselves. I believe therapy works best when clients feel safe enough to show up authentically, and I place a strong emphasis on building real, collaborative therapeutic relationships with the people I work with. I also strive to see clients as whole people, not just as a diagnosis or a list of symptoms. Alongside exploring mental health concerns, I’m interested in understanding the larger context of your life, including your relationships, identity, hobbies, work, interests, and personal strengths. I believe these parts of who you are can offer valuable insight, support growth, and help shape therapy in a way that feels more personal and meaningful. Most importantly, I deeply value my clients and genuinely care about the people I work with.
I work especially well with clients who are exploring questions of identity or who feel like they’re trying to navigate a world that wasn’t really built with them in mind. This may include experiences related to anxiety, depression, social anxiety, mood disorders, neurodivergence, gender identity, or trauma. I’m a good fit for people who benefit from thinking outside the box, or who haven’t found traditional, one-size-fits-all approaches to therapy to be a helpful match. My focus is on meeting you where you are and collaborating in a way that fits your unique needs, goals, and lived experience.
I identify as
Person-centered (Rogerian)
I utilize a person-centered approach. Simply put, this means that we are a team. I follow your lead and collaborate on treatment goals, session topics, and resources. That way, we can ensure therapy is working for you!
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
My training in DBT skills allows me to incorporate practical tools like mindfulness, emotional regulation, and distress tolerance into sessions to help clients navigate difficult emotions and everyday stressors more effectively.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
My training and experience in CBT skills allows me to work with you to explore the belief systems and thought patterns that may be getting in the way of what you want for yourself. Together, we can identify self-beliefs you’d like to shift and how they show up in your day-to-day life. From there, we can use CBT tools like thought challenging in a supportive, collaborative way to help you build more balanced, realistic ways of thinking that work for you.
Gender-affirming therapy
I have experience providing gender-affirming support in therapy, working collaboratively with clients as they explore their gender identity in a way that feels safe and authentic to them. I follow each client’s lead in discussing areas such as social transition, physical transition, and identity exploration, always at their pace and in alignment with their goals. My approach is grounded in affirmation, respect, and supporting clients in living in a way that feels most true to who they are.