I grew up in a racially and ethnically-diverse, religious, middle-class family in the suburbs. Struggling with severe, undiagnosed anxiety and depression in adolescence and young adulthood, I carried the heaviness of shame as I didn’t know how to express what I was experiencing, and I definitely didn’t understand why I felt the way I did. I had many moments where I felt “othered” or that I didn’t “belong,” sometimes even in my own communities. I was told I was “too quiet,” “too sensitive,” and if I did react: “you’re too much.”

When I started going to therapy, it seemed like it was only for people in crisis or struggling with severe mental health issues. However, I realized therapy is so much more than “just talking.” I learned it could be a space to build trust with another person, create safe boundaries, learn to identify and name abuse, and understand your right to bodily autonomy and consent. I learned more about my identity - who I wanted to be versus what other people projected onto me, what roles I played in my relationships, and what it looked like for me to experience joy. Often times, these were thoughts I was already ruminating on, but therapy allowed me to safely explore those thoughts and find healthy ways to express them, and eventually, apply what I learned to my everyday life.

I’ve had clients ask me, “what made you become a therapist?” And truthfully, I never saw myself ending up here! However, when I thought about what I was passionate about, it always came back to one thing: helping others. I wanted to give back in the same way that others had so graciously done for me: offering me a space to be my authentic self. It wasn’t until I was practicing that I knew I was right where I was meant to be.

So what kind of therapist am I? First, I’m human. I show up authentically as a queer woman of color, sarcastic and tattooed. I love to laugh with my clients, and talk about the latest book you’re reading. Second, I will meet you where you’re at. Coming from a feminist, anti-oppressive, trauma-informed lens, I consider and actively name the systems that we’re operating in and how that may affect your lived experience differently than others. Third, I believe that you are the expert on you! I’m not here to talk AT you. I’m here to listen and be in dialogue with you about the life you want to live.