I decided to become a counselor because my educational and professional journey kept bringing me back to one core truth: people heal and grow when they feel seen, heard, and supported. From mentoring students to working in healthcare, retail, and complex, highly regulated industries, I found the most fulfillment in helping others navigate challenges and discover their strengths. My journey in Clinical Mental Health Counseling confirmed that walking alongside people through their hardest moments is the work I am called to do.

I work best with children, teens, and adults who are willing to explore their thoughts, feelings, and patterns with openness, even if they feel anxious or unsure at first. I especially enjoy supporting clients who are navigating anxiety, mood concerns, trauma, identity questions, family and relationship stress, attention and behavior challenges, and life transitions.

Counseling is not always easy—there are times when emotions run high and exploring past hurts or deep wounds can feel uncomfortable or exhausting, yet these moments often reflect genuine growth and courage, as healing is rarely a linear process.

In a first session with a child or teen, I focus on building safety and rapport, learning about their world, and hearing from caregivers about what they are seeing at home or school. I explain things in age-appropriate language, incorporate playfulness or activities when helpful, and set simple, clear goals together with the family. In early sessions with adults, I offer a calm space to share their story, clarify what they want from therapy, and begin introducing CBT, DBT, and life-skills tools that fit their daily life, such as coping skills, communication strategies, and ways to manage stress.

Working as an intern at a child and adolescent residential treatment center and on a acute psychiatry unit in a hospital with adolescents, adults and older adults taught me to prioritize safety, dignity and seeing each person as an individual facing their unique challenges. Collaborating with families, nurses and other team members deepened my respect for team-based, trauma-informed approaches and for meeting people where they are. Having mentored at-risk college students and K-12 students around their academics, has reinforced my belief in the power of building rapport, realistic goals and establishing skills. Walking with students who navigate systemic barriers, familial stressors and self-doubt grounded my commitment to empower, advocate and help individuals identify and connect with their own strengths and values. On a personal level, experiencing family challenges and grief has deepened my compassion and understanding for clients navigating loss and transition. These personal and professional experiences together inspire a practice that is empathetic, strengths-based, and authentically human

I tailor therapy by considering age, developmental stage, and family context, then adjusting my approach accordingly. With children, I use more concrete, visual, and play-based strategies, involve caregivers in learning and practicing skills, and keep sessions engaging and predictable. With adults, I may focus more on insight, patterns, and collaborative problem-solving, using structured CBT/DBT tools or life-skills work as needed. Across all ages, I check in regularly about what is and is not helpful, so therapy stays responsive, collaborative, and individualized.