LMHC, 3 years of experience
New to Grow
I'm a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, University professor, and PhD candidate with a passion for helping individuals navigate life’s challenges and heal from emotional wounds. I provide a safe, supportive space where clients can explore their experiences, build insight, and develop practical tools for growth. Using evidence-based approaches like CBT, DBT, and trauma-informed care, I tailor therapy to meet each client’s unique needs and cultural background.
Reaching out for help can feel like a big step, but you’re not alone in this. In our first session, my goal is to create a safe, supportive space where you can begin to feel seen, heard, and understood. We’ll start by exploring what brings you to therapy, what you hope to gain from our work together, and any concerns or goals you’d like to discuss. I offer an integrative, trauma-informed approach to therapy—one that honors your unique experiences while helping to break down the stigma often attached to mental health. Our adversities, while deeply personal, connect us through the shared human experience. Together, we’ll navigate life’s challenges, plant that "seed of hope," and nurture it into meaningful, lasting change. You don’t need to have all the answers or know exactly what to say—this process is about meeting you where you are. We’ll move at your pace, celebrate your strengths, and work toward growth that feels authentic and empowering. If you're ready to take that first step, I’d be honored to walk with you on your journey, one step at a time.
One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is my ability to create a warm, affirming, and non-judgmental space where clients feel safe to explore even the most difficult parts of their stories. I take an integrative, trauma-informed approach that allows me to tailor therapy to each individual’s unique needs—drawing from evidence-based practices like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and strengths-based strategies. What truly sets my work apart is my deep commitment to helping clients reconnect with their inner resilience and purpose. I don’t just focus on symptoms—I help you find meaning in your experiences, break down mental health barriers, and move forward with a renewed sense of hope. My clients often tell me they feel genuinely heard, deeply understood, and more empowered after our work together. Therapy with me is not about quick fixes—it’s about sustainable, transformative change. Whether you're navigating trauma, stress, identity challenges, or simply feeling stuck, I help you plant the seeds for lasting healing and growth.
I work with clients facing a variety of challenges—whether it’s body image struggles, self-esteem issues, chronic illness, anxiety, depression, or navigating life’s transitions. I’m deeply inspired by the transformative power of change when clients embrace their inherent worth and release their burdens. While each journey is unique, we all share the potential for growth, resilience, and a brighter future. My goal is to guide you in understanding that no matter where you’ve been, you have the power to create a fulfilling, empowered life.
In my clinical practice, I utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as a structured, evidence-based approach to help clients identify and modify maladaptive thought patterns that contribute to emotional distress and behavioral challenges. CBT informs my case conceptualizations and treatment planning by emphasizing the reciprocal relationship between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. I collaboratively work with clients to increase their awareness of automatic thoughts, challenge cognitive distortions, and develop healthier coping strategies. CBT interventions in my practice often include thought records, behavioral experiments, exposure techniques, and psychoeducation. I tailor CBT techniques to align with each client’s developmental stage, cultural background, and presenting concerns—whether addressing anxiety, depression, trauma, or interpersonal issues. Additionally, I incorporate homework assignments to reinforce session work and promote generalization of skills into daily life. This structured, goal-oriented modality empowers clients to become active participants in their own healing and fosters long-term resilience.
In my clinical practice, I incorporate Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to support clients in achieving emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness. DBT’s balance of acceptance and change strategies aligns well with clients who struggle with intense emotions, impulsive behaviors, self-harm, or interpersonal conflict. I use DBT both as a comprehensive framework and as a set of practical skills that can be integrated flexibly based on the client’s needs and level of functioning. I guide clients through the development of skills using DBT’s core modules while maintaining a validating therapeutic stance that helps them feel seen and understood, even when facing significant internal or external conflict. DBT-informed strategies in my sessions include chain analysis of problem behaviors, mindfulness-based practices to increase present-moment awareness, and skills coaching to enhance emotional and behavioral regulation outside of sessions. Whether used in individual therapy or as part of a larger treatment team, DBT allows me to offer structure, accountability, and compassion while helping clients build a life worth living. I particularly find its emphasis on dialectics—holding two opposing truths—as powerful when working with clients experiencing cognitive rigidity, trauma responses, or identity struggles.
In my practice, I take a culturally sensitive approach by recognizing and respecting each client’s cultural background, values, and lived experiences. I strive to create a safe, inclusive space where clients feel seen and understood, and I integrate cultural awareness into assessment, case conceptualization, and treatment planning. I remain mindful of power dynamics, intersectionality, and the impact of systemic factors, tailoring interventions to align with clients’ cultural identities and worldviews.
In my practice, I use Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to help clients explore and understand the underlying emotions that shape their relational patterns. I guide clients in identifying unmet attachment needs and restructuring emotional responses to foster deeper connection and secure bonds. By creating a safe, empathic space, I support clients in accessing and expressing core emotions to promote healing and lasting change in their relationships.
In my practice, I apply a trauma-informed approach by recognizing the widespread impact of trauma and prioritizing safety, trust, and empowerment in the therapeutic relationship. I create a supportive environment that avoids re-traumatization, emphasizes client choice, and integrates an understanding of trauma’s effects on the mind and body into all aspects of assessment and treatment.