Long before I became a therapist, I found myself drawn to spaces where people could simply be themselves. Some of my most meaningful experiences were working with youth and young adults through summer camps and play-based learning environments. Those spaces taught me something I continue to carry into my work today: growth rarely happens because someone has all the answers. More often, it begins when people feel free to explore, connect, create, make mistakes, and discover who they are without fear of getting it “right.”
As I moved into therapy work, I began to see that these lessons are not unique to childhood. The curiosity, creativity, and connection that support growth remain essential throughout our lives. Whether we’re six or sixty, our experiences and relationships continue to shape how we understand ourselves. The ways we learned stay safe, connected, loved, or accepted often become protective patterns that continue into adulthood. Maybe we learned to be the “easy” child who never asked for help. Maybe we became perfectionists, people-pleasers, or learned to avoid our emotions. These strategies often developed for good reasons – they were ways we adapted to safely navigate the world around us.
It can be natural to want to get rid of the parts of ourselves that feel painful or limiting
I believe healing is actually about understanding them with compassion, honoring the purpose they’ve served, and gently exploring whether they still support the life we want to live today. It’s about creating enough safety and curiosity to explore who we have been, who we are, and who we’re still becoming.
Perhaps that’s why I value play so deeply – not simply as something children do, but rather a way of engaging with the world and ourselves. Play invites us to imagine, experiment, and be messy. While play may look different throughout our lives, I believe that same spirit of curiosity remains essential for growth and at every age. Whether we’re building with legos, trying on a new perspective, or taking a small step outside our comfort zone, growth often begins with the willingness to explore, embrace what we discover, and imagine what might be possible.
This kind of exploration takes courage and can be difficult to do alone. Healing often happens in the context of relationships that offer enough safety, authenticity, and trust to make trying something new feel possible. That’s the foundation I hope to create in the therapy room.
What Therapy With Me is Like
Whether I’m working with a child, a teenager, or an adult, I approach therapy as a partnership. You are the expert on your own life, experiences and values. I bring my warmth, encouragement, and unconditional positive regard to help you feel safe enough to explore all parts of your experience at your own pace.
I strive to create a gentle, caring space where you can be honest, make mistakes, and explore the messy parts of being human without fear of judgment. From there, I will gently invite you to explore areas that may feel difficult, uncomfortable, or unfamiliar. Change often happens when we feel supported enough to try something new.
Because every person is unique, I tailor my approach to your needs and goals. I draw from approaches including Brainspotting, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), parts work, play-based therapy, and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD. While each approach offers something different, they share a common foundation: helping you understand yourself with greater compassion while expanding your sense of choice in how you respond, relate, and move through the world.
People I Often Work With
I may be a good fit for you if you are:
- Looking for support for a child or teen who feels overwhelmed by big emotions, anxiety, social challenges, or changes in their life.
- A young adult or adolescent trying to understand yourself and your place in the world.
- Someone who has experienced difficult relationships, trauma, or painful experiences that continue to impact how you see yourself and connect with others.
- Someone experiencing OCD who feels like fear, uncertainty, or intrusive thoughts are taking up too much space.
- Someone who feels stuck in patterns that once helped you cope but no longer feel aligned with the life you want to live.
- Someone who is looking for a therapy space where you can show as your full self – all the vulnerable, uncertain, painful, and joyful parts included.
We all deserve the opportunity to move beyond simply surviving and toward living in ways that feel authentic, connected, and aligned with what matters most. I would love to support you in that journey.
Reach Out Now
We look forward to connecting with you!
