When I was younger, I experienced unique challenges related to adjusting to new life circumstances. I met with a psychologist who helped me get my life back on track, and that experience with him inspired me to follow his example. His relatability, his down-to-earth approach, taught me to do the same for my own clients.

I work best with clients that are ready to change their lives and are willing to open their minds to new possibilities. It makes a counselor's job that much easier knowing their client is open to trying new things, make adjustments, construct goals, and do the hard work to achieve them. Clients often turn to therapy when they have no better option, when they have no one else to turn to, when they run out of ideas, or they don't know what kind of changes are needed to improve their lives. It's the client that is willing to embark on the voyage of change through the storms of life that ultimately succeeds, and I'm always happy and ready to meet a client who is honest with themselves and says, "I'm ready to change

There is so much negative stigma in today's culture that claims therapists don't help, or they only do it for the money, or that clients end up having to do all the work, and many other accusations. At its core, counseling is about therapists helping GUIDE clients to the change that's needed in their lives, whether that change is new behavior, thoughts, beliefs, jobs, relationships, or attitudes. Clients are people, and every person is responsible for steering the ship of their own lives. The therapist's job is to help guide that ship through safe passages and dock at a good port. In other words, therapists help guide clients to achieve better lives. Therapists can't steer the ship for clients, but we certainly try to help guide them throughout the process, offering new ideas, fresh perspectives, and differing approaches to what the client already knows. My supervisor during my internship once told me this: A person doesn't embrace change until they get sick and tired of being sick and tired. Healing is only possible through change, otherwise the situation only ever stays the same.

I always start off sessions with clients by introducing myself, inquiring about my clients' backgrounds, and then discussing why the client has come to therapy. Once the client and I get a firm grasp of the situation they're in, we then discuss goals for therapy and the steps to take to achieve those goals

I highly value honesty, trustworthiness, and transparency as a therapist. I'd rather have the truth that hurts than lies that comfort, and am always aspiring to treat clients that way. Clients deserve the truth, and I believe clients who know the truth about what's going on in their lives are that much closer to experiencing freedom. If you are a client reading this, you can expect me to tell you the truth.

The key to tailoring therapy to what client's need from it is to observe and understand them. Some clients come to therapy already fully aware of what goals they want to achieve and simply came for help achieving them. Other clients don't know what goals they want to achieve, and need help either understanding themselves, their relationships, or their environment before they can brainstorm about a goal. Still others move through therapy slowly, or others quickly. Every client is different, and it is my job as a therapist to be flexible and open to how each client wants to approach therapy. Whether that be slow sessions down, speed them up, focus on one single goal, construct several, talk about life's challenges, or discovering oneself, therapy is a sandbox, and anyone is invited to come play how they see fit.