For me, I view therapy as a collaborative partnership, where I provide clinical expertise and support to assist my clients, their partners, and their families in figuring out the root of their emotional and behavioral issues. From here, we work together to find solutions to the problems that bring us to therapy.

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I have always had a passion for finding solutions to problems that consistently create hardship for folks. What led me to this profession was wanting to be a guiding light for clients seeking unique, creative solutions to their unique, everyday problems  -- but who feel stuck in the dark on how to move forward. I approach these problems using a systemic, empathic stance. It is important to me that my clients feel seen, heard, and understood.

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My training in marriage and family therapy and systemic multicultural counseling gives me a unique perspective; one that allows me to see not just the person, but all of the systems and factors that contribute to maintaining the problems they encounter. I use narrative therapy and attachment-based approaches, such as emotion-focused therapy, to help folks realize their potential to take charge of their response to the problems they face.

 

A renowned therapist once said, "the person is not the problem, the problem is the problem." Sometimes we can lose sight of that. I view a big part of my role as being a supportive set of refocusing-lenses for my clients: I strive to help my clients overcome narratives and beliefs that internalize shame, failure, and hopelessness. These types of inner stories can result in all sorts of conflict (internal and external). In working together, we will identify where these stories may be present, what their impacts are, and how you can rewrite them.

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When we first meet, you can expect the session to feel like an informal dialogue, where I get to know you and you get to know me. I make space for clients to ask me questions about my clinical experience, my social location (e.g., my identity), and what they imagine the "rewriting process" of therapy might look like. From the beginning and throughout our time working together, we will collaborate on mapping out the goals you aspire to achieve in therapy, and discuss any questions and concerns as they come up.

 

In my own experience as a client, I've valued a therapist being open-minded, transparent about the methods they use, and not imposing their beliefs onto our work (i.e., no "should'ing" allowed!). Open-mindedness is an important aspect of what I bring to my work as a therapist. I don't assume I am the expert on a client's life. I strive to acknowledge how my life experiences may be similar or very different from the clients I serve, which allows me to be mindful of how my own beliefs can shape one's experience of therapy. I am also transparent about the methods I use, and am happy to "pull back the curtain" of "how therapy works" in our sessions to learn what approaches are working best for you.

 

Ultimately, I believe that therapy can benefit any person, regardless of what phase of life they find themselves in. If you are ready to take that leap of faith, to take the first step of reaching out, or are considering returning to therapy to work through unresolved issues, then you are in the right place!

 

My hobbies include long walks in nature with my dog, listening to podcasts, writing poetry, and spending quality time with friends and family. As a fairly recent transplant to Winston-Salem, I look forward to directly giving back to the community through connecting with others and volunteering, as this is an important aspect of who I am, too.