I truly believe learning to care for yourself is one of the most important steps we can take and I’m so glad you’re exploring what you need in this moment! This journey looks different for each person and many aspects might be elusive or challenging to tackle on your own. I believe therapy can help by offering consistent structure and support to build a deeper understanding of self and gain awareness into how to create new patterns to foster compassion, stronger relationships with others, and confidence to handle whatever life might throw at you.

I have a strong interest in working with clients who desire to shift patterns that have left them feeling stuck. This might look like often feeling fatigued or disconnected. You might not be sure why you feel this way and it’s hard to find an answer for ‘how do I practice caring about myself and what does that really look like?’ Together, we can approach your experiences with curiosity and openness and help you create more space for ease, trust in yourself, and meaningful connection in your life.

I deeply enjoy working with clients who identify as LGBTQIA+, neurodiverse, or people of color. Much of my previous experience has been with college students who identify with one or more of these communities. As a clinician who identifies as a person of color, non-binary, and neurodiverse, I am very passionate about incorporating intersectionality, evidence-based practice, and affirming treatment into my work. Working together might look like exploring competing demands, questions about who you are, how you navigate the world around you, and what you value. I believe that honoring who you are as a holistic person offers us a chance to really understand how different parts of your identity, cultural background, and the world around us impact your experiences and therapy with me.

My overall approach is relational, trauma-informed, and focuses on offering concrete skills to practice and implement. This means the relationship we build together is paramount and is based on collaboration, safety, and autonomy. Each person needs something a little different and our time together can be as flexible as we need it to be. I often use Time-Limited Dynamic Psychotherapy (TLDP) to explore relationship patterns and create opportunities for growth within a focused timeframe, along with interpersonal, mindfulness-based, and cognitive-behavioral strategies to support lasting change.

Experience

My previous clinical work included providing individual and group counseling and psychological assessment to children and adults. I have experience working in community mental health, university counseling centers, and private practice. I most recently completed my doctoral internship at Counseling and Psychological Services at the University of Arkansas.

Licensure

I am a postdoctoral resident at Balanced Awakening. I have several years of clinical experience, yet require additional supervised practice before being eligible for licensure in the state of Illinois. I am supervised by Dr. Caitlin Stumpner and Dr. Hannah Yang outside of appointment times.