Licensed to practice in Wisconsin. Specializes in Childhood / Intergenerational Trauma, Life Transitions, Personality Disorders and 7 more.
(she/they)
New to Grow
I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor based in Madison, Wisconsin. I work with adults who are trying to make sense of themselves, their relationships, and what comes next — especially after experiences that have left them questioning their own judgment, identity, or sense of who they are. I have extensive experience working with complex trauma, narcissistic and emotionally abusive relationship dynamics, personality disorders, divorce, career changes, and other major life transitions. I’m particularly drawn to working with people who have spent a long time adapting to difficult relationships or living according to roles and expectations that no longer fit. I also love working with college students and adults who are asking some version of: Who am I when I’m not being who everyone else needs or expects me to be? My style is curious, direct, thoughtful, and deeply human. Therapy with me isn’t about sitting across from someone who simply nods and takes notes. We’ll look closely at patterns, make connections, challenge what needs challenging, and leave room for humor and humanity along the way. Outside the therapy room, I’m endlessly curious — about people, history, relationships, and the complicated ways we become who we are. I believe the best therapy happens when a real human being shows up for another real human being. That’s what I bring to every session.
Your first session is yours. There is no expectation that you arrive with everything figured out, the perfect explanation for why you’re here, or even a clear idea of where to begin. What you can expect is a real conversation with a real human being who is genuinely curious about you — not just your diagnosis or your history on paper, but you. We’ll talk about what brought you here, what you’ve already tried, what hasn’t worked, and what you’re hoping might be different this time. I’ll ask questions, follow the threads that seem important, and probably make you laugh at least once. You don’t need to perform wellness or find the “right” words. You just need to show up as you are. We’ll figure out the rest together. By the end of our first session, my goal is simple: that you leave feeling genuinely heard, perhaps seen in a way you didn’t expect, and cautiously hopeful that this might actually be different.
What stands out most is that I show up as a full human being in the room. I am warm, direct, and genuinely nonjudgmental — and I will gently challenge you when challenge is what you need. I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all therapy. I follow the thread of what is actually happening with you rather than applying a formula. One of my strengths is helping clients understand the deeper patterns underneath what brings them to therapy — the old wound that may be fueling the anxiety, the identity question beneath the relationship problem, or the survival mechanism that once protected you but may now be holding you back. Clients often tell me they finally feel like someone truly gets them. Some of the most meaningful breakthroughs happen when someone feels safe enough to tell the truth — sometimes for the first time. I work hard to create that kind of space, because I believe that’s where real change begins.
I am best positioned to work with people who have never quite fit the mold — those with complex histories, who have struggled to find a therapist who truly gets them, or who have spent too much of their life feeling “too much” or difficult to understand. I particularly enjoy working with survivors of toxic or emotionally abusive relationships ready to reclaim their sense of self, adults navigating childhood and intergenerational wounds, and people whose concerns live at the intersection of trauma, relationships, identity, and self-worth. My practice is LGBTQ+ affirming, kink- and poly-aware, and genuinely welcoming of people with body modifications, alternative subcultures, and pagan or Wiccan spiritual practices. These things don’t have to be why you’re coming to therapy. Sometimes you simply want a therapist who understands they’re part of your life without requiring you to explain, defend, or edit them. My ideal client is curious about themselves and ready to do meaningful work. You don’t need everything figured out — but you do need to be willing to look honestly at patterns, tolerate some discomfort, and consider that what once helped you survive may not help you build the life you want now. I work best with people who value honesty over platitudes and want a therapist who shows up as a full human being rather than a blank slate. I am direct, warm, curious, and willing to challenge you — while also helping you recognize growth that can be surprisingly hard to see in yourself. If you’ve ever left a therapist’s office feeling unseen, misunderstood, or like you had to edit yourself to be acceptable, you may have found the right place.
My approach is eclectic and integrative, which really means I don’t believe every person needs the same kind of therapy. I draw from a range of evidence-based approaches, including psychodynamic therapy, DBT, CBT, ACT, Schema Therapy, Gestalt, and trauma-informed frameworks — but the person sitting in front of me matters more than the acronym. I pay attention to what you need, where you are, and what we’re discovering together. Sometimes that means learning concrete skills to manage what is happening right now. Other times it means looking backward to understand where a pattern began, challenging beliefs that no longer serve you, or exploring deeper questions about relationships, identity, and meaning. Our work may move between all of those things. The approach isn’t predetermined — it’s shaped by your history, your goals, and what is actually useful to you.