Starting therapy can feel strange. You are essentially sitting down with someone you do not know and being asked to talk about parts of your life that you may barely talk about with the people closest to you. I do not take that lightly. My goal is to create a space where you can be honest about the difficult emotions, choices, relationships, experiences, and circumstances in your life without feeling judged for them. I am interested not only in what is happening in your life right now, but also in how you got here. I want to understand what growing up was like for you, the people and experiences that shaped you, the environments you have lived in, and the beliefs you may have picked up along the way. Sometimes the way we respond to life makes much more sense once we understand where those patterns began.
My approach is collaborative, curious, and candid. Therapy isn’t just a place to hear what feels comfortable or familiar, it is also a space to slow down and consider things from a different angle. I ask thoughtful questions and offer perspectives that may challenge the way you’ve been looking at something, with the goal of helping you step outside the moment and decide what fits with your values and the life you want to create. I work with a wide range of clients, from young children through older adulthood. I also have a particular interest in understanding the experiences of first responders and the ways their work, responsibilities, and exposure to difficult situations can affect both their personal and professional lives. I am currently training in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), a structured therapeutic modality that incorporates guided imagery and eye movements to help clients work with distressing memories and the emotional experiences attached to them.
I believe therapy can include serious conversations without feeling serious every minute. We can laugh, talk about the things that bring you joy, and appreciate the parts of life that are going well. And when we need to explore some of the darker corners, I will go there with you. I think of my role as holding the flashlight while we look around together, clear away a few cobwebs, figure out what has been hiding underneath, and decide what still deserves a place in your life and what may be ready to go.
Before becoming a therapist, my path took a few turns. I spent many years working in a medical laboratory and also worked in elementary education. Those experiences gave me very different windows into people, health, development, and the many ways we make sense of the world. I earned my master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Westminster University, graduating with honors. I was also honored to receive the Emily Ott Memorial Award for excellence in counseling practice and for modeling a balanced, well-rounded approach to the demands of the counseling program. What made the award especially meaningful was what it represented: carrying forward the qualities of a classmate who came before me and whose presence left a lasting mark. I see the recognition as a reminder to approach this work with compassion, steadiness, and authenticity, while remaining fully human along the way.
Outside the therapy room, I have tried my hand at plenty of things I am not very good at but keep doing because they are fun. I have also reached “that age” where I am much less concerned with whether anyone else thinks I am good at them, and much more willing to laugh at myself while I figure it out. Singing, dancing, gardening, cooking, and a few artsy endeavors all fall into that category. I also love animals, ethnic cuisine, candy, desserts, and most foods that would never make the nutritional recommendations list. Halloween is easily my favorite holiday. I enjoy learning about cars, especially hypercars, and I am equally happy disappearing into Harry Potter or The Lord of the Rings, watching Horrible Bosses, or settling in with shows like The Office reruns or SEAL Team.
