Life does not always change on our timeline. A new school, changing friendships, college, grief, family changes, emerging adulthood, or questions about identity can leave you feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what comes next. Whether you are looking for support for your child, navigating adolescence, or trying to find your footing as a young adult, therapy can offer a place to pause, reflect, and make sense of what you are experiencing. For parents, I also strive to create a collaborative relationship where you feel supported and informed while honoring your child’s need for a safe, trusting therapeutic space.

I especially enjoy working with children, adolescents, and emerging adults as they move through life’s transitions. You may be struggling with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, big emotions, grief, or the feeling that life is changing faster than you can adjust. You may also be exploring your identity, including gender identity, sexuality, and self-expression. There is no right timeline for understanding who you are, and therapy can create space to approach those questions with curiosity rather than pressure.

You do not need to have everything figured out before starting therapy. We will move at a pace that feels right for you, making space to explore who you are, what matters to you, and who you want to become.

My Approach

My approach is collaborative, flexible, and deeply client-led. You are the expert on your own experiences, and my role is not to direct you toward a predetermined answer. Instead, I will meet you where you are, listen carefully, ask thoughtful questions, and help you notice patterns or possibilities that may be difficult to see from inside your own experience.

Therapy should not push you into difficult conversations before you feel ready. Our first priority will be building comfort, trust, and a shared understanding of what you want from therapy. We will begin with what feels most important to you and adjust our work as your needs evolve.

I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and a client-centered approach to help you better understand the connection between your thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and values. Sometimes our minds develop automatic ways of thinking that make it harder to offer ourselves compassion or respond to challenges with flexibility. Together, we can slow those thoughts down, consider whether they are accurate or helpful, and create more room for grace.

Values are also an important part of my work. We may explore questions such as: Who do you want to be in this next chapter? What matters most to you right now? What qualities do you want to bring into your relationships, school, work, or everyday life? Our goal is to make those values feel reachable—not like distant ideals, but like something you can begin living out in small, meaningful ways.

For clients exploring gender, sexuality, or other parts of their identity, therapy can be a place to investigate without pressure to choose a label or arrive at a final answer. I welcome people from all walks of life and am proud to provide LGBTQIA+-affirming care.

What to Expect When We Begin

Our first few sessions are about getting to know you—not rushing into the hardest parts of your story. We will talk about what brings you to therapy, what you hope will change, and what would help you feel comfortable in our work together.

For children and adolescents, I want therapy to feel like a space where their own concerns and goals matter. Even when a parent or caregiver initiates therapy, young people often have a clear sense of what feels difficult, what they wish were different, or where they would like support.

Over time, we may work on understanding emotions, navigating transitions, challenging unhelpful thoughts, developing coping skills, exploring identity, and making choices that feel more aligned with who you are. We will grow at your pace, with room for questions, uncertainty, and change along the way.

Experience

My experience in school-based and private practice settings has allowed me to work with children, adolescents, and emerging adults from a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences. I especially enjoy supporting young people as they navigate developmental transitions, better understand their emotions, explore their identities, and build confidence in the person they are becoming.

I earned my bachelor’s degree in Psychology from DePaul University and my master’s degree in Forensic Psychology from The Chicago School. Although I ultimately chose to pursue clinical therapy, my forensic psychology background strengthened my understanding of individuals who may have felt misunderstood, overlooked, or unheard.

My goal is to create a compassionate and affirming space where you can explore your thoughts, emotions, identity, and self-expression without judgment. Together, we will work at your pace to help you better understand yourself, trust your voice, and move toward a life that feels more authentic and aligned with your values.

Licensure

I am a Clinical Fellow at Balanced Awakening, completing the final steps toward LCPC licensure. I have several years of clinical experience and I am currently accruing additional supervised practice to be eligible for the LCPC credential in Illinois. I am supervised by Jaleesa Pirtle, LCPC.