LPC, 25 years of experience
New to Grow
I’m Chris, a licensed professional counselor who provides therapy for both individuals and couples seeking support, clarity, and healthier ways of navigating life’s challenges. I use an eclectic and integrative approach, drawing from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, trauma-informed practices, and the Gottman Method. This flexibility allows me to tailor therapy to each person or relationship, ensuring that the work we do together fits your goals, values, and pace. I specialize in helping clients with communication struggles, emotional disconnect, conflict patterns, anxiety, stress, and major life transitions. In individual work, I focus on understanding the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that shape your daily experience and your sense of self. In couples work, I help partners identify the cycles that keep them stuck and replace them with more supportive, respectful, and compassionate interactions. My style is structured, straightforward, and supportive. I aim to create a balanced therapeutic environment where you feel both validated and challenged in ways that promote growth. I work collaboratively, helping you develop insight while building concrete tools for managing emotions, improving communication, and strengthening relationships. Clients often describe me as calm, grounded, and easy to talk to—someone who helps them make sense of complex situations without judgment. My goal is to help you or your relationship feel more stable, connected, and empowered. Whether you're coming to therapy to heal, grow, or change long-standing patterns, I’m here to guide you through the process with clarity and compassion.
Starting therapy is an important decision, and your first session is designed to help you feel grounded, understood, and clear about what comes next. Whether you’re feeling nervous, hopeful, overwhelmed, or simply curious about beginning therapy, our first meeting will be a supportive, structured space where you can talk openly and move at a pace that feels right for you. A Comfortable, Guided Conversation In our first session, I’ll invite you to share what brings you in—whether it’s a specific situation, a long-standing pattern, a relationship concern, or a feeling you can’t quite name yet. You don’t have to have the “perfect” words or a polished story. My role is to help you make sense of what’s happening and what you want to focus on. I’ll ask questions to better understand your experiences, your history, your strengths, and what support looks like for you. This is not an interrogation—it’s a collaborative conversation. You get to guide what you share, how much detail you give, and what feels important for me to know right away. Your Goals and What You Want From Therapy Every client comes in with something unique they want to shift, understand, or heal. During our first session, we’ll talk about: What led you to schedule now What you hope will feel different in your life or relationships What has been working for you What hasn’t been working Any immediate needs or concerns If you’re unsure about your goals, that’s completely normal. Many people start therapy because they just know something feels off. We can uncover your goals together. Creating Emotional Safety Feeling safe and supported is essential to meaningful therapy. In our first session, I’ll spend time helping you understand what you need in order to feel grounded, respected, and emotionally safe in this space. This may include discussing: What helps you open up What shuts you down How you prefer to communicate Any previous therapy experiences (positive or negative) Boundaries and expectations Safety doesn’t mean we avoid hard topics—it means we approach them in a way that honors your capacity, your timing, and your emotional wellbeing. Understanding Your Background Depending on your comfort level, we may explore parts of your personal history that connect to your current concerns. This can include relationship patterns, significant events, family dynamics, or moments that shaped how you navigate stress, conflict, communication, or connection. You’re always in control of what
My strengths lie in creating a space where people feel safe, understood, and not judged for the hardest parts of their stories. I approach therapy with curiosity and compassion, always moving at your pace. I integrate trauma-informed care, attachment work, and practical skill-building to help you develop insight and emotional stability while also creating meaningful, real-life change. Clients often tell me they appreciate my steady presence, my ability to make difficult topics feel manageable, and my clarity when things feel confusing or overwhelming. I help people reconnect with their values, improve communication, rebuild trust, and develop healthier ways of relating to themselves and others.
My ideal clients are individuals and couples who are ready for honesty, structure, and practical tools they can use outside of session. I work best with people who want to understand why certain emotions or patterns keep showing up and who are open to learning new skills for managing stress, navigating conflict, and creating more stability in their daily lives and relationships. I’m a strong fit for clients who feel overwhelmed, unheard, or unsure how to move forward, as well as those who want to strengthen emotional safety, deepen understanding, and break out of reactive or conflict-driven patterns. Many of the clients I support are motivated to improve communication, repair trust, and build healthier ways of relating—whether in intimate partnerships, family systems, or friendships. You don’t need to have everything figured out; just a willingness to explore what’s happening beneath the surface and try new ways of connecting.
My eclectic approach is not random—it’s intentional. I assess what each client or couple needs in real time and choose interventions that are appropriate for their emotional state, relational patterns, and therapeutic goals. This adaptability supports individualized care while staying grounded in evidence-based practice.