“I am open-minded and empathetic and, in my own struggles, I found support to be extremely important so I have made it my career to give support to others.”
What was your path to becoming a therapist?
I always knew that I wanted to help others. I am open-minded and empathetic and, in my own struggles, I found support to be extremely important so I have made it my career to give support to others. I have experience in addiction counseling, LGBTQAI+, HIV/AIDS, relationships, adolescents, adults, anxiety, depression, and other general counseling areas.
What should someone know about working with you?
I am casual and informal but still professional. The intake is meant to establish a background that helps us move forward. It can be comprehensive, but I try to keep it contained as well. We will choose goals that can be vague or specific and then make progress by completing steps toward those goals. Homework might involve completing a step, or part of a step, in between sessions. We will discuss feelings and obstacles along the way.
What do you do to continue learning and building competencies as a provider?
I take classes online and in person to continue learning about my field. Plus, I always learn from my own personal experiences and those of my connections and my clients.
How do your own core values shape your approach to therapy?
I believe and have found that being open to others' ways of life, thinking, beliefs, cultures, identities, processing, and connection dynamics leads to growth, healthy bonding, and learning; it also cultivates a particular type of excitement and interest in others and in life. I try to follow this in my life as well as in my role as a therapist.
“I believe and have found that being open to others' ways of life, thinking, beliefs, cultures, identities, processing, and connection dynamics leads to growth, healthy bonding, and learning; it also cultivates a particular type of excitement and interest in others and in life.”