I became a therapist because I understand how much it matters to have a place where you do not have to edit yourself to be accepted. I wanted to create the kind of room where people can bring the truths they have carried quietly, feel fully seen without judgment, and begin loosening the grip of shame, fear, and old survival roles. For me, counseling is both practical and deeply human work: helping people reconnect with their own voice, recognize the strength that has carried them this far, and build a life shaped by greater authenticity, choice, and self-trust.

I work best with adults who are ready to understand themselves more deeply and make meaningful, sustainable changes. Many are LGBTQIA+, veterans, navigating kink or polyamory, moving through grief or major life transitions, or questioning roles that no longer fit. They may feel anxious, burned out, disconnected from themselves, or tired of organizing their lives around other people’s expectations. I especially value working with clients who want therapy to be warm, honest, collaborative, and spacious enough to hold both practical change and the full complexity of who they are.

Healing is not about becoming a more acceptable version of yourself; it is about understanding what helped you survive, meeting those parts with compassion, and creating enough safety and choice to live more fully as yourself.

Our first session is a chance to begin getting to know one another without pressure to tell your whole story at once. We will talk about what brings you to therapy, what feels most important right now, and what you hope might become different. I may ask about your history, relationships, strengths, supports, and safety, while remaining attentive to your pace and comfort. In the early stages, we will build trust, identify patterns and priorities, and shape a collaborative plan that makes room for both practical tools and deeper exploration.

My experiences as a gay, polyamorous Navy veteran have shaped my understanding of identity, belonging, chosen family, relationship diversity, and the quiet cost of living inside roles that leave too little room for the truth of who you are. They have also deepened my respect for resilience without romanticizing what people have had to survive. My practice is grounded in dignity, curiosity, honesty, compassion, and the belief that healing should never require someone to become smaller, quieter, or more acceptable to others.

I begin with the person, not a predetermined method or diagnosis. Together, we explore your goals, identities, relationships, culture, strengths, history, and what has—or has not—felt helpful before. I draw flexibly from ACT, CBT, DBT, mindfulness, self-compassion, motivational interviewing, and polyvagal-informed care, adjusting the pace and balance of practical tools and deeper reflection to fit your needs. I also invite honest feedback throughout our work so therapy can remain collaborative, responsive, and genuinely useful to you.