I decided to become a counselor because I know what it is like to feel as if you have no one to turn to or listen to your issues. I know what it is like to feel as if you have to shoulder the entire burden alone, put on a mask, and act as if everything is fine. I decided to become a counselor to be that for someone else; someone they can turn to for assistance in dealing with their issues and feel like they have been heard.

One thing I want all clients to know is that counseling is not going to be easy, especially if they are coming in with issues related to trauma. In my experience, things are going to get worse before they get better, and it is going to take a lot of work on both of our parts in order to get through it and see results. But the hard work and pain is more than worth it in the end.

"Only you can decide what breaks you."- Sarah J Maas. This quote from one of my favorite authors inspires me because it is a pretty good summary of my outlook on counseling and life. Every one of us will experience events in our lives that knock us off our feet. Being knocked down in life is inevitable. We cannot control that. The only thing we can control is if we get back up or not.

In their first session with me, clients can expect to answer a lot of questions about what brings them into counseling and what their goals are, and filling out a lot of paperwork, such as informed consent. Additionally, clients can expect the first session to be more of a "get-to-know-you" session where we see if we will be a good fit to work together (it is okay if we are not). Finally, the first session will include developing a tentative treatment plan for our work together based on the clients' stated concerns and goals.

Before scheduling a first counseling session, clients should know that I do not practice from a religious perspective. If a client explicitly requests that their religious beliefs be a part of our work together, I will do my best to do so, but it is not something that I specialize in and probably will not be very effective at doing.

On my time off, I enjoy playing video games, reading, and occasionally hanging out with friends.