Since I began the journey of being a therapist I knew I did not want to be that stereotypical, stuffy, person who quietly takes notes while you lay on the couch. That therapist knows all about you but you know nothing about them and they seem so boring or blank.

That’s not me. Even from the beginning I was told that no one would take me seriously as a professional with brightly dyed hair and piercings. And a few times I went ahead and changed my look to appease an employer…..and I never felt like me. It always felt like a mistake because those places were just not a good fit for me. They cared about a look and I cared about the integrity of the work. Some part of me knew deep down that these places were not aligned with my values.

So here I am, 13 years into being a therapist. And what is funny is I tend to get a lot of people say they contacted me because of my hair. I think this says a lot about the power of being able to present as yourself-- because it allows you to be your authentic self.

That’s how I work. I bring my authentic self in the room. And by doing this I hope I can model and show you that it is okay for you to show up as yourself authentically too. Because I do feel that many people tend to suffer in this life because they have to stifle parts and pieces of themselves. Whether it’s your sexuality, gender, or your own wants, needs and desires.  Or even those “icky” or “gross” parts of yourself. Those parts of you that you feel ashamed about or feel like you shouldn’t think or feel. I’m here for all that too. I believe that once you’re able to accept, allow and love those parts of yourself– even the icky ones – you can start to live your life as a whole person. Healing means bringing these fragmented parts back together and creating a more cohesive whole.  No one is perfect, believe me, I have gone through this over and over too. We are human, we make mistakes, we might say or do crappy things sometimes. What matters is how you get back up once you’ve fallen down. Can you get back up and try again? Can you go back to that person and acknowledge your mistakes so you can repair again? That’s what matters. I’m here to help you through all the messiness that is part of being a human.

I’ve heard people describe me as being kind, calming, silly, sensitive and understanding. I have learned over time to be direct but in a gentle way. My hope is that we can build a therapeutic relationship where it feels safe enough for you to explore yourself, the difficult aspects of yourself too, and where I can gently move you towards building awareness and acceptance of how you may be getting in your own way, but without judgment. I understand that all this is hard, but I also want you to receive a perspective that your friends or family may not be able to provide to you. I’m here for you!