Licensed to practice in California and accepts 7 insurances. Specializes in Trauma and PTSD, LGBTQ, Anxiety
(they/them)
New to Grow
I'm a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC #10097) and the founder of Engender Hope Psychotherapy, a telehealth practice serving clients throughout California. As a genderqueer therapist with lived experience, I specialize in trauma therapy and gender-affirming care for LGBTQ+ and trans communities. My clinical background includes work at a transgender health clinic in Philadelphia, Gender Health SF, Dimensions Clinic for Queer and Trans Youth, and the SF Department of Public Health's Behavioral Health Crisis Response Team. I'm EMDR-trained and bring a deep, personal understanding of the intersection of complex trauma and queer identity to every therapeutic relationship.
Your first session is really about getting to know each other. I'll ask about what brought you in, what you've tried before, and what you're hoping to feel or experience differently in your life — but there's no pressure to share everything at once. We'll move at your pace, and I'll be honest with you about how I work and whether I think we're a good fit. More than anything, I want you to leave feeling like you've been heard, not assessed.
What makes me different isn't just my training — it's that I've done my own work. As a genderqueer therapist who has personally navigated trauma, identity, and healing, I bring a rare combination of clinical expertise and genuine lived experience to our sessions. I won't need you to explain why representation matters or what it costs to move through the world in a marginalized body — I already know. My clients often tell me they feel a sense of relief in working with me: the relief of finally being with someone who is both highly skilled and deeply human.
My ideal client is someone who is ready to be truly seen — maybe for the first time. I especially love working with LGBTQ+ folks, transgender and nonbinary individuals, and anyone whose sense of self has been shaped by navigating a world that wasn't built with them in mind. You might be exploring your identity, moving through a transition, or healing from experiences of rejection, invisibility, or trauma that has quietly shaped how you move through the world. Maybe you've tried talking about the hard stuff before and it only got you so far — you're ready to work with it on a deeper level, in your body and not just your mind. You don't have to educate me or earn your place here. If you're someone who is curious about yourself, willing to go a little deeper, and looking for a therapist who will meet you with both warmth and skill — I'd love to work with you.
I identify as
EMDR
I use EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to help clients heal from painful or overwhelming experiences that continue to affect them in the present. Rather than just talking about difficult memories, EMDR works with the body and nervous system to help those experiences finally feel processed and in the past — so they no longer carry the same emotional charge. I move at a careful, collaborative pace, making sure each person feels grounded and resourced before we do any deeper work together.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
I also work with Internal Family Systems (IFS), an approach based on the idea that we all have different "parts" of ourselves — inner voices, feelings, or patterns that developed for good reasons, often to protect us during difficult times. Rather than seeing these parts as problems to get rid of, IFS helps us get curious about them, understand what they've been carrying, and develop a more compassionate relationship with our inner world. Over time, this work can bring a deep sense of internal harmony and self-trust.
Gender-affirming therapy
I provide gender-affirming therapy, meaning I approach each person's gender identity and expression with full respect, curiosity, and without assumption. Whether you're exploring your gender, navigating transition, seeking support letters for gender-affirming care, or simply looking for a therapist who gets it — you don't have to explain or justify yourself here. My practice is an affirming space where your identity is a given, not a question.