”Real safety is your willingness to not run away from yourself.” – Pema Chodron

MY APPROACH

At the core of my counseling approach is a commitment to remain curious; I seek to learn what moves you. I am directive (meaning that I am an active guide during our time together), yet client-driven (meaning that our work is rooted in your, unique wishes). I strive to help you feel safe enough to be brave: to share openly, take risks, face fears, and rise to challenges.

My practice is based on substantive, holistic, trauma-informed healing for lasting change.  I see you as more than your symptoms; I believe diagnosis can be useful, but it is not my focal point.  We all have patterns of thoughts and behaviors that can be self-limiting and defeating, leading us to feel stagnant or in pain.  I believe that you developed these patterns because, at some point in your history, they made sense and helped you survive.   

MY STYLE

My therapy style is relaxed, unpretentious, and candid. I laugh a lot, but I take you seriously. I invite you to bring your whole self—mind, body, and spirit—into our relationship, and I will do the same. You’ll benefit from my insightfulness, attentiveness, and warmth…as well as my humor, occasional irreverence, and imperfection as a fellow human navigating a complex world.

Some things my clients say they like about me as a counselor are:

  • I am interactive, inquisitive, and challenging.

  • I serve as a collaborative partner, not just a silent listener.

  • I will be “real with you,” but gently, and while moving at your pace.

  • I’m skilled at identifying and tracking what is most important, and connecting dots.

MY MOTIVATION

I believe in the value of counseling because I have benefited from it personally. I have enough life experience to understand the great joys and great sorrows of living, and despite all of my formal education, life itself has been my most important teacher. There is something magical in the synergy that exists when two or more people come together to reflect and grow, and I hope to be a person who can help you unearth the best inside of you, as others have done for me.

MY BACKGROUND

When people ask me about myself, I tend to identify the places I’ve lived: I grew up in New Hampshire, went to college in Massachusetts, spent my 20’s in Brooklyn, NY, then moved to Austin in 2007. I feel a deep attachment to each of those places, and they all greatly influenced the person I’ve become. I’m a proud graduate of Mount Holyoke College, New York University, and St. Edward’s University.

My first career began in the New York City foster care system and expanded to child welfare programs across the country. During my time in this field, I earned a Master of Public Administration degree and observed the impact of inequality, poverty, mental illness, addiction, incarceration, child abuse, trauma, and loss. My proudest achievement during my first career is having developed and delivered a comprehensive education program in conjunction with the Human Rights Campaign Foundation on providing affirming services to LGBTQ foster youth and families. After 20 years in training and social services management, I felt called to return to grad school for counseling.

My favorite moments are often spent with my dog, Ruby, my cats, Joan and Roger, and my partner, Irfan. Sometimes I do Pilates or strum a ukulele, but thrift & antique shopping is my true favorite hobby. I’m not ashamed to spend hours binge-watching a TV series, but a long walk in nice weather is also delightful. My coolness quotient definitely peaked when I was in a college a cappella group. The things that bring the most joy, awe, and meaning to my life are travel and deep friendships.