(she/her)
New to Grow
You look like you have it all together on the outside - but internally, something still feels "off," and you can't fully explain why. You think things through. You're self-aware. You've likely spent a lot of time trying to understand yourself, your patterns, and what's going on - but still feel stuck in ways that don't quite make sense. A lot of the women I work with are high-functioning, capable, and used to figuring things out on their own. On the surface, things may look fine. But on the inside, there's overthinking, second-guessing, or a quiet sense of disconnection from yourself. I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW/LSCSW) in Kansas and Missouri with over 11 years of experience across medical, nonprofit, and mental health settings. I work primarily with anxiety, stress, relationship dynamics, and identity-related challenges. My approach focuses on helping you understand what's actually driving things beneath the surface - so you're not just coping, but finally making sense of it in a way that leads to real, lasting change. Many of my clients come in feeling frustrated that they "know better" but still find themselves in the same patterns - mentally looping, questioning their decisions, or reacting in ways that don't feel aligned with who they want to be. This work is about more than insight. It's about helping things actually click in a way that changes how you respond in real time - so you feel more steady, more grounded, and no longer pulled back into the same cycles. If you've been trying to figure this out on your own and still feel stuck, you don't have to keep doing that alone. This is a space to slow down, understand what's actually going on, and start responding in ways that feel more like you.
You don't need to have it all figured out before you start. Most people I work with come in feeling unsure, overwhelmed, or like they've already spent a lot of time trying to understand what's going on - but still feel stuck in ways that don't fully make sense. In our first session, we'll talk through what's been happening - but more importantly, we'll start making sense of it together. I'll ask thoughtful, targeted questions to help you slow things down and see patterns more clearly. We'll begin connecting pieces that may not have fully clicked yet, so you can start to understand not just what is happening, but why. You don't need to explain everything perfectly or have a clear starting point. You can come in exactly as you are. You'll also get a feel for how I work - collaborative, direct, and focused on depth. This isn't a space where you'll just vent and leave feeling the same. The goal is to help you begin seeing things in a way that actually shifts how you respond outside of session. We may also begin identifying where you tend to get pulled into the same cycles and what's keeping those patterns in place, so you can start to relate to them differently. Many clients leave that first session feeling a sense of relief - not because everything is fixed, but because things feel clearer, more grounded, and more workable. There's no pressure to get it "right" in the first session. The focus is simply on slowing things down, understanding what's happening, and beginning to move through it in a more intentional, aligned way. You're also welcome to ask questions at any point during that first session - about the process, how I work, or what ongoing work together could look like. This is a collaborative space, and it's important that it feels like a good fit for you. If we decide to move forward, we'll talk through what consistency might look like and how to build on the insights from the first session in a way that supports meaningful, ongoing change. If you'd prefer to have a free 15-minute consultation call before booking a session with me, you're welcome to reach out to get that scheduled.
One of my greatest strengths is helping people understand what's actually driving their thoughts, reactions, and patterns - especially when they've already spent a lot of time trying to figure it out on their own. Many of the people I work with are insightful, reflective, and capable. They've read, thought, and processed - but still find themselves in the same cycles. What stands out in my approach is the ability to take what feels confusing or overwhelming and break it down in a way that actually makes sense. This is often where traditional therapy has fallen short - staying at the level of self-awareness without creating meaningful shift. I pay close attention to patterns, underlying dynamics, and what's happening in real time - not just what's being said, but how it's showing up. This allows us to move beyond surface-level insight and begin working with the parts of the process that actually create change. Clients often tell me that things start to "click" in a way they haven't experienced before. Instead of just understanding something intellectually, they begin to see how it applies in their day-to-day life and feel more able to respond differently in the moment. My background includes over 11 years of experience across medical, nonprofit, and mental health settings, which has given me a strong ability to work with complexity, nuance, and the intersection of emotional, behavioral, and environmental factors. I also bring a balance of being direct and thoughtful. I won't just sit back and listen without direction, but I'm also not going to push or overwhelm you. The work is collaborative, paced intentionally, and focused on helping you move forward in a way that feels clear and aligned. Ultimately, what makes this work effective is not just insight - but helping you connect the dots in a way that leads to real, lasting change. Clients often notice that our sessions feel both structured and natural. There's space to talk things through, but also a clear focus on what actually matters and where to go next. This work tends to be a good fit for people who are ready to look a little deeper and move beyond surface-level conversations. If you're looking for a space that is solely about venting without direction, this may not feel like the right approach. What I offer is a balance of clarity, depth, and forward movement - so you're not just talking about what's happening, but beginning to understand it and respond in a way that creates meaningful change over time.
You might be someone who looks like you have all together on the surface - but on the inside, something still feels "off" and you can't fully explain why. You're thoughtful, self-aware, and used to figuring things out on your own. You've likely spent time reflecting, trying to understand your patterns, and wanting things to feel different - but still find yourself stuck in ways that don't fully make sense. Many of the clients I work best with are navigating anxiety, life transitions, relationship dynamics, or a general sense of disconnection from themselves. They're not lacking insight - they're looking for clarity around what's actually driving things so they can respond differently and feel more aligned in their day-to-day lives and relationships. This work tends to be a good fit if you're open to looking a little deeper, moving beyond surface-level conversations, and making sense of patterns in a way that leads to meaningful, lasting change. I work with adults of diverse identities and am an affirming, inclusive provider.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
I use ACT to help you step out of getting trapped in your thoughts and into a different relationship with them. If you're someone who thinks things through, analyzes, and tries to make sense of everything - but still feels stuck - ACT helps you notice when your mind is pulling you into loops that don't actually move you forward. Instead of trying to "fix" or eliminate those thoughts, we work on understanding how they're operating and how to respond to them in a way that feels more aligned with who you want to be. This is especially helpful if you find yourself caught between knowing what you should do and still feeling pulled in another direction. ACT helps create space between you and those patterns so you can move forward more intentionally, rather than feeling stuck in your head.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use CBT to help you understand how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact - but not in a surface-level or overly simplified way. If you've ever felt like you already "know" your patterns but still can't shift them, this is where my approach to CBT is different. We're not just identifying thoughts - we're looking at how they show up in real time, how they influence your reactions, and what keeps those cycles in place. The goal isn't to force positive thinking. It's to help you recognize the patterns that aren't serving you and begin responding to them in a way that feels more grounded and intentional in your day-to-day life.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I use a DBT-informed approach to help you build skills around emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and navigating situations that feel overwhelming. This isn't a full DBT program - it's a more integrated, practical approach focused on helping you apply these skills in the moments where you tend to get pulled off track. If you find that your emotions escalate quickly, or you react in ways that don't feel aligned with how you want to show up, DBT-informed work helps you slow things down and respond differently in real time. It's less about memorizing skills and more about knowing how to use them when it actually matters.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
I incorporate mindfulness-based approaches to help you slow things down and become more aware of what's happening internally, moment to moment. If you're used to staying in your head - thinking, analyzing, trying to figure things out - this work helps you step out of autopilot and into awareness. Often, patterns continue not because you don't understand them, but because they're happening so quickly and automatically. Mindfulness helps you notice what's happening as it's taking place, which creates the space needed to respond differently. This is where things start to feel less reactive and more intentional.
Relational
Relational therapy focuses on how patterns show up in your relationships - with others and with yourself. If you've noticed recurring dynamics in relationships, or find yourself responding in ways that don't feel aligned with who you want to be, we look at how those patterns developed and how they continue to play out. This isn't about analyzing the past endlessly - it's about understanding how those dynamics are still influencing your present experience, so you can begin to shift how you relate, respond, and show up. For many clients, this is where things start to connect on a deeper level - because it moves beyond isolated issues and into the patterns underneath them.