The intense emotions, the complicated relationship patterns, the protective walls, the shame, and the fear of being misunderstood. One of the things I appreciate most about counseling is that it gives people a space to slow down and begin making sense of themselves with more compassion instead of judgment. 

What drew me to this field was the belief that people are not random. Our emotions, behaviors, reactions, and coping patterns usually come from somewhere. Sometimes they developed as ways to survive, protect ourselves, avoid pain, or make sense of experiences that felt overwhelming. I see therapy as a space where people can begin to understand themselves more deeply, learn new ways of coping, and build a life that feels more grounded and connected.

My counseling style is compassionate, direct, and collaborative. I want clients to feel that they can bring their full selves into the room, including the parts of themselves they may feel embarrassed by, confused about, or afraid others will judge. I especially value working with clients who experience intense emotions, relational struggles, or difficulty understanding who they are beneath what they have had to become. I have a particular interest in working with individuals navigating complex trauma, personality disorders, emotional dysregulation, and attachment-related concerns. These experiences can often leave people feeling like they are “too much,” hard to love, difficult to understand, or stuck in patterns they desperately want to change. 

In therapy, I hope to help clients move away from shame and toward curiosity. Rather than asking, “What is wrong with me?” we may begin asking, “What happened to me, what did I learn from it, and what do I need now?” In sessions, I tend to draw from approaches such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and parts-informed perspectives. I appreciate DBT because it offers practical skills for managing intense emotions and staying grounded during difficult moments. I value CBT because it helps clients notice the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. I also appreciate parts-informed work because it allows us to explore different sides of ourselves with more compassion, including the parts that protect us, feel wounded, or want change. 

Counseling with me is meant to feel real, supportive, and collaborative. I believe therapy can be professional and deeply human at the same time. My hope is that clients feel seen while also feeling supported in making meaningful change. I may ask thoughtful questions, reflect patterns I notice, help build coping skills, and gently challenge clients when it seems helpful. I want therapy to feel like a place where clients can be honest without having to perform or pretend they are doing better than they are. 

Some of the goals I help clients work toward include developing emotional awareness, building healthier relationships, increasing self-compassion, understanding trauma responses, strengthening coping skills, improving communication, and feeling more secure in their sense of self. I also hope to help clients build a better relationship with the parts of themselves they may have learned to reject. 

Outside of counseling, I am a creative person who enjoys art, reading, and exploring psychology through storytelling and self-reflection. I am especially interested in the mind-body connection, trauma, identity, and the ways people make meaning from their experiences. Creativity has always been one of the ways I understand myself and the world, and I value the role it can play in healing. At the heart of my work, I want clients to know that they do not have to come into therapy already knowing how to explain everything. You can show up overwhelmed, emotional, or still trying to find the words. My goal is to meet you there with warmth, curiosity, and respect.