Therapy
In my practice, I work with teens and adults (generally ages 14-25) who are struggling to manage and feel like themselves while navigating the demands of various life roles (e.g., work, school, family, social). I love to laugh with my clients just as much as being able to hold silence and space for personal exploration.
When I commit to our time together, I commit to witnessing, believing, and honoring your truth- you are the expert of your experience. Being heard and believed without question is a luxury for some members of our society… here’s to hoping this norm shifts over time. Until that happens, I’ll be here, bringing authenticity and acceptance, uplifting all parts of you, and caring enough not to bullshit you.
Please know that whatever brought you to explore this page and the possibility of therapy is real, and the spectrum of feelings you have do not occur in a vacuum. You deserve a therapist that understands how the systems we navigate contribute to our feelings (both comfortable/uncomfortable, helpful/unhelpful) and helps you take steps to understand how you are more than a list of symptoms. You are whole. How you are coping right now is not a reflection of how resilient, capable, or wise you are. You are doing the best you can with what you have, and you are deserving of support.
It is our task in therapy to help you find the parts of yourself you want to explore and lean into, to find ways to exist fully realized. Therapy is for the brave-- for those who want better for themselves and commit to doing both the internal and external work. Therapy is a revolutionary act, and I am all about that. I am here to help you do the messy work of imagining a life that is true to you and working together to create a space where you feel safe expressing that.
Please note: I reject the idea that therapists are “blank slates” or unbiased. Healing comes from relationships (so does harm), and, in order to have a real, dynamic therapeutic relationship with you, I bring my human-ness into sessions. This does not mean therapy will become about me; it does mean that if you are looking for someone who can just reflect and validate, I am likely not the best fit for you. To me, change comes from engagement, not just awareness.
Radical Softness
"Strength does not have to mean turning off how you feel and being guarded. It can be sharing yourself openly. It can be putting energy into healing. It can be documenting your vulnerability in order to make others feel less alone. It can be refusing to be sorry for how you feel."
Lora Mathis
BBIMP
Black Brown Indigenous Melanated People
In order to survive and succeed in the world many of us have made changes to how we show up, making small adaptations to be more acceptable, more palatable, relatable, to avoid judgement, punishment, etc. These are often small tweaks we didn’t even realize we were making — strategies to survive in spaces we are in, to keep ourselves safe. However, these take us away from our true selves. I work to center and uplift the needs of marginalized identities and bodies and we will work together to help you identify and reclaim the parts of yourself you have hidden.
Some things we might consider in therapy:
How do I alter my existence in the presence of white, white-presenting folx, or white institutions?
How does this take care of me?
How does this harm me?
Are there any other decisions I could make to take care of myself in these moments?
Emotion Awareness
Do you find yourself trying to ignore or suppress your “negative” emotions? Do you feel like you don't have control over your emotions or emotionally driven actions? Do you find that you can’t name how you are feeling in a certain moment?
Emotions serve a purpose - they are a gauge for how we interact with the world around us. However, we often grow up with narratives that lead us to doubt or ignore our emotional responses (think about how many times someone has told you how you “should/shouldn’t” feel about something!). Part of our work in reclaiming all of our identities lies in understanding and honoring our emotions. Doing this allows us to fully engage with our bodies, thoughts, and feelings to take steps towards behaving in a way that feels more like our true selves.
This process is MESSY and hard-- you might see that you have an increase in anxiety during this work. Although we will develop strategies to make sure this doesn’t become too overwhelming, please know that anxiety is a sign that you are trying something new and are unsure of what to expect-- that's a good thing!! You are engaging in therapy because you feel like you need a change, so allow your level of anxiety to help you gauge how much you lean into the work. See what I mean about emotions serving a purpose?
You will be surprised at how empowering it is to know and trust yourself and your internal reactions to your environment. It is freeing, and you deserve that.
School Difficulties
Feeling scattered? Do you know what your goal might be, but it’s hard to figure out your starting point or path to get there? Do you feel that the way things are taught at school doesn’t match how your brain learns?
Even though school or work makes you feel different-- this is SO normal!! As a school social worker for over 6 years, I saw how the education system was tailored to a very small percentage of people. This can lead to frustration, anxiety, and overwhelm at school. I have developed a variety of skills and tools you can use to feel successful in a “traditional” school environment and ways you can advocate for yourself to make sure school works for you. Too often, difference in schools is labeled as a “disability”-- let’s work together to reframe this. You are more than what school decides you can’t do; you are a whole person trying your best to fit into a system not designed for you. Let’s collaborate to make it all fit.
Let’s Talk
I ask that we have a 15 minute consultation prior to booking anything. Think about what you would want in the therapeutic relationship, and ask me questions to make sure I am a good fit for you. Your time and money is valuable, and you should make sure I am the best person to help you on your journey. This blog post might be a good starting point to ensure you are asking questions that are helpful to you in choosing a therapist.