About Therapy
A particular set of skills for young people and their families…
What do I do best? Everything! Nope, just kidding. No therapist is the best at EVERYTHING.
I do, however (insert Liam Neeson’s voice), have a particular set of skills… best suited for teens and young(er) adults [middle school, high school, and college range (13-30)] and, even more importantly, the parents of said teens/young adults.
I am relatable and stay relevant in current trends/culture/tech.
I’ve spent my clinical career working primarily with young people and families, as well as engaging in continuing education and training on interventions specifically suited for this age group (including training in evidence-based interventions).
I work from a family systems lens, and I incorporate techniques from several therapies and approaches, including narrative and art therapy, mindfulness, trauma focused-CBT, and DBT.
My office is equipped with sensory-focused tools (scented dough, kinetic sand, worry stones, stress balls, weighted blankets, essential oils/diffusers, therapy lamps, sensory pillows, etc.), art supplies (oil, acrylic, pencils, paints, sketch books, etc.), and other materials to support creative therapies that cater to the needs and interests of each client.
The twists and turns of adolescence and young adulthood…
I am absolutely passionate about working with these folks – helping them to navigate the many twists and turns and ups and downs that adolescence and early adulthood bring to everyone involved, including their families.
I often meet clients and families in a place of crisis or urgency who are struggling with newly developed or sudden increase in distress related to gender identity and transition, anxiety, depression, grief/loss, suicidal ideation and self-harm, relationships (peers, partners, child/parent), family dynamics, and parenting support.
In addition to offering LGBTQ+-affirming individual and family therapy, I also offer an LGBTQ+ Teen Support Group, as well as parent support sessions to fully support the entire system. I also have years of experience in counseling and advising students in high school and college settings, and I love helping clients and their families successfully prepare for and transition to high school and college.
What makes me equipped for this journey?
The unofficial answer: For some reason, I’m still young and cool enough for folks to connect with me (despite my gray hairs coming in).
The official answer: My degree and training is specifically in family therapy, and I’ve been doing clinical work within this specialty for a decade now (and still love it more and more each day and with each new client and family I meet).
I pride myself both personally and professionally on being a genuinely authentic human being, and I believe that there is an energy and vibe that comes along with that which kids (and adults) can totally pick up on. I also believe in emphasizing trust and respect for all my clients, regardless of their age, identity, or community.
About Me
I believe in transparency, so to be real with you…
… I seriously dislike writing about myself – and definitely don’t like writing about myself and then sharing it with anyone and everyone who could potentially access this page. It’s super vulnerable!
But hey, so is therapy – right? And I can’t expect my clients to be their most vulnerable selves in our work if I don’t challenge myself to practice the same work in my own life. So here it goes….
Like many of the teens, young adults, and families I work with, I’ve had to go through my own difficult experiences through adolescence and transition into adulthood. I’ve had to make my peace with undesirable relationships with family, friends, and partners.
I’ve had to heal from trauma and loss. And I’ve spent much time engaging in my own therapeutic work to attain a deeper sense of self and clearer identity. (Even as I write this, I’ll admit that I even just finished consulting with two potential new therapists for myself to start some next level work on this).
One of the most important things I’ve learned throughout this process so far…
… is that it takes a lot of vulnerability and a lot of effort to work through the “shit” in our life – and we all have “shit.” We owe it to ourselves to take responsibility for that and develop enough self-love and self-acceptance so that we truly believe that even with all that we’ve endured, we still deserve a beautiful and fulfilling life.
The second most important lesson learned throughout this process is how important it is to take the time to truly find your “people” in this life. Our support system is what fuels us to keep pushing on when we are feeling our lowest. And as we know, teens and young adults really go through the hardest of times when making these first attempts at establishing these life-long connections (I’ve totally been there).
I’m super grateful for my support system – my chosen family – for helping to make it possible for me to even have an “about me” page – or a website in general. They are the ones that continue to support me in being my most true and authentic self in this life.
And I know there’re people out there that think I’m full of BS, but I really am one of those fortunate people that truly LOVES what they do.
I have genuine love and care for each and every one of my clients…
… and I look forward to each of my sessions with them.
That’s why I think it’s so important to let all my current and potential future clients know just how much I believe in the work that I do and that I truly practice what I preach.
I work on my own stuff, and I challenge myself in new ways every day. I value true connection and open dialogue on the importance of and inclusion of intersectionality in both my personal life and professional work.
I’m always working on doing a better job at acknowledging my own privileges that this life has afforded me and challenging others and systems in general in working on this, too.
When I’m not doing the job I love…
I enjoy the arts and entertainment (museums, live music/concerts, movies), activities outdoors (napping on the beach is an activity, right?), and spending as much time as I can with my two fur babies, Vayda and Benny.
You mean I didn’t scare you off with all that personal stuff…?
Well, if you’ve made it this far, then it’s a pretty solid sign that we could be a great fit to work together. YAY!
At this point, I’d recommend we continue our next steps with a free 20-minute phone call to chat about where you need the most support in your life right now: (267) 989-9113.
I’ll structure our call to ask guided questions that will help us get a clear picture of some initial goals and expectations for working together and be sure that I have the right skills to meet your needs. And if it’s not the fit we hoped for, then I’m happy to refer you to some kick-ass colleagues that you may vibe with a little better.