What should I expect in our first session?
The first session is meant to feel grounded, welcoming, and collaborative. My goal is for it to feel more like a natural, flowing conversation rather than an interrogation or something overly clinical. We may talk about things like school, relationships, stress, and your day-to-day life so I can start to get a fuller picture of you. I’m also interested in hearing about what’s already working for you, not just the hard stuff. There’s room for laughter, and if it feels right, we might even go for a walk.
How do you describe your therapeutic approach?
My style is collaborative and creative, with a side of directness and humor. We all have different things that make us tick. My job is to get to know what those things are for you and bring them into our work together. The goal is to empower you to use the tools and techniques we explore in session not just in the room, but out in the real world where they matter most.
How long have you been practicing?
I’ve been practing for over 10 years.
What has your counseling experience been like?
My counseling experience has felt a lot like waves in the ocean, sometimes steady, sometimes turbulent, but mostly calming and a reminder that we’re all in this together. Every client and every season of work has taught me something new, and I continue to feel grateful for the opportunity to walk alongside people as they navigate their own waves.
What do you specialize in?
I work with adolescents and their parents, helping families move from surviving to thriving.
What are research areas are you interested in?
I’m especially interested in somatic approaches, treatment-resistant depression, digital life and its impact on emotional regulation, and experimental or creative interventions for teens. I also love studying the work of Irvin Yalom and often find inspiration in his approach to therapy.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part of my job is watching someone begin to understand themselves in a new way, and getting to celebrate that moment with them. It’s the shift from “something is wrong with me” to “oh…this actually makes sense about me, and here’s how I can navigate it.” I also love helping parents start to see their child through a new lens, when frustration begins to soften into empathy.
What inspired you to get into counseling?
I was always the person who couldn’t stop talking with parents about their kids when I worked at a nonprofit, and it was the part of the job that energized me the most. Add in countless hours spent on the phone with friends talking through life, relationships, and big questions, and it started to become pretty clear where my strengths were. The final nudge came when a boss in the corporate world said, “I think you would really thrive as a therapist.” Turns out, they were right.
In another life, if you weren’t working in counseling, what would you be doing?
This is a very cheesy answer, but I’d probably still find a way to work with adolescents and their parents and help facilitate connection, rapport, and stronger relationships, just in a different form. Maybe through public speaking, which I already do and would love to do more of. Or I’d be a dancer. I’m not particularly great, but I do love to bust a move or seven.
What’s something your clients might be surprised to learn about you?
I don’t watch TV or movies. I WILL watch something for research if a client loves it or references it a lot.