About Me

Many people enter counseling feeling confused about why they haven’t been able to move forward to the progress they are seeking. Some people have clear-cut goals; others wonder why they can’t get to that point. Sometimes, people come in for therapy with a specific mental health concern, such as depression, anxiety, or an eating disorder. Other times, it is a life circumstance—separation from their spouse, suffering following an abortion when society says they shouldn’t, wanting to figure out how to move forward in their career, a history of trauma, or any number of other things. Or sometimes, they don’t know what is going on with them; they just know something is different. A fairly consistent feeling, though, is a feeling of being “stuck somehow.”

I’m not always entirely sure how I ended up sitting in this seat. I began my college journey with the best-laid plans as a pre-med student. However, through a series of twists and turns, God laid out a path that was better for me than the one I had carefully crafted. I graduated from the University of Southern California with a master’s degree in social work and now work as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. Along the way, I have worked with diverse clientele in a variety of capacities and settings, including online through telehealth. I have experience in small medical clinics, in hospital rehabilitation units, hospice, home health, and community mental health settings. Most recently, prior to working in private practice, I worked as an executive director of a 501(c)3 nonprofit. I have been in private practice for about five years, and know that this is where I’m supposed to be.

When I’m not in my comfy chair getting to know clients, I can usually be found spending time with my family out on hikes or at a zoo. I spend a great deal of time consuming the newest research. I find joy in quiet moments with a good book and conversations about life’s hypotheticals.

How I work

I work with clients from diverse backgrounds, including adolescents, adults, and couples, seeking to use methods that are backed by research and strong evidence. I strive to treat each client as an individual, knowing not every client will respond to the same type of treatment. I have experience treating a variety of clinical concerns, including anxiety, depression, attachment trauma, and eating disorders among others. I am trained in a number of proven therapeutic interventions, including cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, solution-focused therapy, and crisis intervention techniques. I am completing further training in emotionally focused therapy.

I am trained to work from an eclectic theoretical background and primarily work from a foundation of psychodynamic and attachment-based theories, grounded in an understanding of interpersonal neurobiology. I seek to be flexible in my approach, checking in to determine what is working and what requires adjustment. Working from a strengths-based perspective, I aid clients in building upon inherent strengths and resilience. I collaborate with clients to clearly determine personal goals for therapy.

It is the biggest honor that people allow me to sit with them in their vulnerability. I know seeking counseling is not easy and the process can be painful. I am afforded the honor and the blessing of journeying with people as they fight past everything telling them to give up and quit. I get to sit with them as they instead, live and, ultimately, learn to thrive again. And, that…that keeps me in my seat.