“I see myself as a helper who assists others on their journey; my role is that of an advocate who empowers, facilitates change, and assists clients as they tap into their inner resources for self-healing.”
What was your path to becoming a therapist?
My personal development, intersecting identities, and the factors surrounding my formative years have shaped my perspective, experiences, and consciousness around issues of social justice. They have also heightened my sensitivity to the plight of human suffering. For as long as I can remember, I maintained a strong passion to serve and a piqued interest in the human psyche. This led me to enter a profession that provides me with a deep sense of meaning and fulfillment. I see myself as a helper who assists others on their journey; my role is that of an advocate who empowers, facilitates change, and assists clients as they tap into their inner resources for self-healing. My training has afforded me the opportunity to work with individuals across a range of identities and presenting concerns. I've worked on interdisciplinary teams across multiple sites, providing clinical and prevention services, and I divide my time between clinical practice, outreach, and providing supervision.
What should someone know about working with you?
My style is very collaborative; the outcome of your treatment depends largely on your willingness to engage in this process, which may result in considerable discomfort at times. Remembering unpleasant events and becoming aware of feelings attached to those events can bring up strong emotions. However, allowing ourselves to experience and work through this is necessary in order for healing to occur. I cannot promise that your behavior or circumstance will change. I can promise to support you, do my very best to understand you and your repeating patterns, and help you clarify what it is that you want for yourself. The intake process involves us co-creating a space of safety and me being able to better understand your reality and experiences. We would then collaboratively determine the goals for us to focus on within the context of our work together. Therapy is always tailored to your unique needs and experiences. I hope that you'll allow me on your journey!
How do your own core values shape your approach to therapy?
My rich clinical and outreach experiences serving individuals who hold marginalized identities as well as my research background focusing on intersectionality, cultural expectations, racially-gendered stereotypes, feminine norms, and experiences of stress speak to my passion and commitment to addressing the unique mental health needs of underrepresented populations. As a Black woman, these issues are close to my heart personally as well as professionally. Furthermore, I am fluent in Spanish and have a background in international studies, which highlights my multicultural values. I value the promotion of a client’s holistic wellbeing within their social context via critical consciousness and the empowerment of clients to engage in self-healing. As a psychologist, these core values are reflected within my approach to therapy.
“My style is very collaborative; the outcome of your treatment depends largely on your willingness to engage in this process, which may result in considerable discomfort at times.”