I became a counselor because I have always been drawn to helping people find a way forward during difficult seasons of life. Through my work in crisis, community, substance use, and correctional mental health settings, I have seen how meaningful it can be when someone feels truly heard and supported without judgment. Counseling gives me the opportunity to walk alongside clients as they build insight, strengthen coping skills, and begin creating real change in their lives. 

I work best with clients who want support but appreciate a direct and practical approach. Many of my clients feel stuck, overwhelmed, or weighed down by difficult life experiences and relationship patterns. I meet clients where they are while helping them look honestly at what is no longer working. Together, we focus on building insight, strengthening coping skills, and taking realistic steps toward change without judgment.

I wish all clients knew that therapy doesn’t require having everything figured out first. Many people start feeling overwhelmed or unsure how to explain their experience—and that’s okay. Therapy is a process of slowing things down, identifying patterns, and building the practical skills needed to take realistic steps forward.

In the first session, clients can expect a calm, respectful, and nonjudgmental space to talk about what brought them to therapy and what they hope will change. I will ask questions to better understand their symptoms, history, strengths, stressors, and goals, while also making room for them to share at their own pace. In the early stages of therapy, we will work together to identify patterns, build coping skills, and create a clear direction for treatment.

I tailor therapy by taking time to understand each client’s goals, symptoms, history, strengths, and current stressors. Therapy is not one-size-fits-all; some clients need immediate, practical coping skills to manage distress, while others benefit from deeper exploration of long-standing patterns, emotional processing, and relationship dynamics. I integrate CBT, DBTinformed care, motivational interviewing, solutionfocused therapy, and mindfulness-based strategies to adjust the pace and focus of treatment. My goal is to meet clients where they are while providing the structure, support, and tools they need to move forward in a meaningful, sustainable, and realistic way.