“As I grew older, I noticed that many of us are hindered by anxiety, depression, and general life stressors when trying to speak our minds, connect with others, and reach our goals.”
What was your path to becoming a therapist?
As a child, I struggled with shyness and anxiety. Supportive people in my life made efforts to hear and understand me when it was difficult to use my own voice. As I grew older, I noticed that many of us are hindered by anxiety, depression, and general life stressors when trying to speak our minds, connect with others, and reach our goals. I decided to become a therapist to empower people to find their voices in the way that I found mine. I have worked with a variety of individuals in day treatment mental health settings as well as family therapy programs and community-based clinics. I value my diverse experiences in the mental health field and continue to build my skills in order to support my clients.
What should someone know about working with you?
I believe that every person deserves to be heard, understood, and ultimately live a fulfilling life. When working with me, you and I will collaboratively complete an intake process so I can learn about your personal experiences and begin goal-setting. It is important that I understand what matters to you, such as your values and goals. The therapeutic process should be meaningful and impactful for you, and this requires me to listen and learn from your experiences. Together, we will create a personalized treatment plan to guide us in our practice. Growth looks different for everyone, and we will consistently assess and adjust our work together as your needs change. My person-centered, strengths-based, CBT approach will help us to draw upon your personal strengths and empower you to reach your goals.
How do your core values shape your approach to therapy?
I am committed to dismantling systems of oppression, such as structural racism, housing injustice, and food insecurity. I uphold this responsibility in my professional and personal lives. While working as a housing specialist, I connected individuals to safe homes and community resources in efforts to lessen the gaps unjustly created by poverty. As a cisgender white woman, I must listen and learn from others whose experiences may differ from my own. I believe that each person is the expert of their own lived experience, and as your therapist, it is my role to listen and empathize with your personal journey to help you create meaningful change.
“I decided to become a therapist to empower people to find their voices in the way that I found mine.”