Get to know me

In our first session together, here's what you can expect

In your very first session, you’ll be warmly welcomed into a collaborative, structured environment where we’ll quickly establish rapport and review confidentiality and logistics. We’ll explore what brought you to therapy—your current concerns, relevant history, and any brief symptom measures. I’ll introduce you to the core CBT model, illustrating how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact. Together, we’ll set one or two initial, concrete goals and map out a simple case conceptualization to guide our work. You’ll also learn your first CBT skill—self-monitoring—by practicing a thought-record in session, and you’ll leave with a homework assignment to track automatic thoughts or behaviors before our next meeting. By the end of that first hour, you’ll have a clear sense of how CBT works, a tool you can begin using immediately, and a roadmap for the weeks ahead.

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

What sets me apart is the way I blend evidence-based rigor with genuine curiosity and warmth. While I’m deeply grounded in classic Beckian CBT—structuring sessions, symptom tracking, and targeted thought-behavioral experiments—I also weave in third-wave strategies (mindfulness from ACT, distress tolerance from DBT) in a way that feels organic rather than “extra modules.” I’m a relentless learner, regularly incorporating emerging research (e.g., digital tools for real-time self-monitoring) and soliciting client feedback to fine-tune our approach together. Culturally attuned and trauma-informed, I adapt every intervention to the person in front of me—whether that means using metaphor and storytelling for creative thinkers or a more pragmatic “toolkit” approach for those who want concrete steps. Ultimately, my clients tell me it’s my combination of clear structure, compassionate curiosity, and collaborative spirit that helps them not just learn CBT skills, but truly own and sustain them in daily life.

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

My ideal clients are those who come to therapy ready to roll up their sleeves and partner in the change process—people who are curious about the “why” behind their thoughts and behaviors, yet appreciate down-to-earth, practical tools they can use right away. You might be someone who’s struggled with anxiety, low mood, perfectionism, or recurring habits that feel stuck, but you also bring resilience, insight, or a spark of hope that things can feel different. Whether you learn best through lively conversation, creative exercises (like drawing your thought patterns), or real-world experiments, you’ll find I adapt to your style—and I love celebrating every small win you achieve. You might be juggling a busy career, family commitments, or demanding schoolwork, and need in-the-moment strategies that fit into your life; or you may be longing for deeper exploration of your core values and life story. Either way, if you’re ready to become your own best advocate—by understanding your mind’s patterns, practicing new behaviors, and building lasting skills—you’ll feel right at home in my practice.