(she/her)
New to Grow
I believe emotional honesty is at the heart of any healthy relationship and to model that here is my truth, I did not set out to become a trauma or addiction therapist. In my early years, I wanted to be a cop, actress, or a marine biologist. However, throughout my childhood, I was always drawn to go deep in my relationships. Often being told as a child, I was too deep, or too sensitive. My first therapist in college helped me reframe that narrative, “you experience life deeply”, she said. Born and raised in Charlotte, NC I made my way to the mountains of Western NC just as soon as I could leave home. My first stop was in Boone, NC where I studied Psychology at Appalachian State University and found its teachings inspiring, useful, and fascinating. As for landing in Asheville, that was destiny. I was only intending to be here for one summer and that was 15 years ago. Destined to create a life better than what I had known, I set out to become the person for others that I needed during many of my life struggles, learning to love and embrace all parts of myself and helping others to do the same. I am a person who is eternally optimistic, hopeful, and dedicated to making this world better than I found it. Recovery happens and it is found in community, connection, and through vulnerability, safety, and compassion.
The first session is an opportunity for me to get to know you and vice versa. The intake appointment covers a wide range of topics and is based off the bio-psychosocial + spiritual framework. It's much like any medical intake but I am to make it as therapeutic as possible by keeping the style conversational. My client's typically feel good at the end of the intake because I do my best to make sure they feel heard, valued, and respected. You will know that I am truly only interested in working on therapy goals that feel important to you and are within my scope of practice and training to treat. We will discuss treatment planning if time allows for it.
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist, I specialize in working with women, trauma, and addiction recovery. I am not a therapist who only learned about trauma and addiction from books and education. I am gratefully recovering. If you are motivated to move beyond the challenges of your current or past life in search of deeper meaning and purpose, I am here to help. Healing is both a practice and a process and the client’s who benefit most from working with me are up for the challenge. I have been given feedback about how working with me feels different than other therapists, in that I am genuine, bring a relaxed presence to the work, and definitely do not give the illusion that I know it all or have all the answers. I learn as much from you as I can share with you and this process is relational, real, and vulnerable. You will come to learn things about me, when useful and with healthy boundaries, which I have found enriching to the client's I serve. As a biracial, queer, gemini, I am quick witted, unique, and appreciate the intersectionality of all the ways in which our various identities impact our mental, emotional, and psychological experiences in the world.
Attachment-based
Attachment-based therapy is utilized to support the development of healthy and loving relationships with self and others. Attachment injury is a part of being human and with support, skills, and individualized treatment we can recover and develop the capacity to give and receive love well. I incorporate meditation, education, guided visualization practices, self-compassion practices, and emotional regulation skills. This modality is strengthened by work done outside of session.
EMDR
I am currently in the process of being certified in EMDR. I have been practicing this modality for more than two years and have seen incredible results incorporating this into my practice. EMDR is neurological therapy that targets unhelpful or maladaptive beliefs such as "I am unloveable" or "I am bad" and uses bilateral stimulation to activate our adaptive information processing center in the brain to reprocess and desensitize overwhelming emotions, sensations, and cognitions connected to negative core beliefs about ourselves. Using EMDR therapy, I have witnessed incredible healing in my clients. This modality does not require homework outside of session but can be strengthened by regular use of the skills and resources used to support effective treatment.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use this method to support individuals in examining the relationship between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. By exploring these patterns closely, we can build insight into what our role is the challenges we face. When we focus on what is within our control to change, we feel empowered. This modality requires some element of homework that supports the work we do in session.