My clinical work is grounded in trauma-informed care and incorporates EMDR, CBT, DBT, ACT, strength-based interventions, and supportive psychotherapy. I work with clients experiencing trauma and PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, substance use and recovery, relationship and family concerns, identity development, and significant life transitions.
I also have experience providing LGBTQ+ affirming care and recognize the importance of understanding each client’s identity within the context of their relationships, family system, culture, and lived experiences. My goal is to provide a space where clients do not have to defend or minimize who they are in order to receive meaningful support.
My background also includes crisis stabilization and working with individuals experiencing higher-acuity and complex mental health concerns, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorder. That experience taught me the importance of staying grounded when things are not neat or straightforward and of seeing the person beyond the diagnosis.
My path into mental health began long before I became a therapist. I served more than 15 years in the U.S. Navy and spent over a decade involved in sexual assault and domestic violence victim advocacy. Through that work, I had the privilege of supporting people during some of the most difficult and vulnerable periods of their lives.
Those experiences shaped how I view mental health today. I saw firsthand how trauma, grief, shame, relationships, and life circumstances can affect people who may appear completely functional from the outside. I also saw how difficult it can be for people to ask for help, particularly when they have spent much of their lives being the person everyone else depends on.
Becoming a therapist felt like a natural continuation of that work. It gave me another way to serve while helping people move beyond simply surviving difficult experiences toward understanding themselves, developing healthier ways of coping, and creating lives that feel more intentional and authentic.
Outside of work, I enjoy riding my motorcycle, traveling and exploring new places, and spending quality time with family and friends. Riding is one of my favorite ways to decompress. Whether it is a local ride or a cross-country trip, there is something about being on the road that gives me an opportunity to reset and simply be present.
What I appreciate most about working for Treat Mental Health is the opportunity to provide individualized care while still being part of a collaborative treatment team. I value being able to work with clients beyond surface-level symptom management and help them understand the patterns contributing to what they are experiencing.
The virtual setting also gives me a unique window into clients’ everyday lives. Therapy is ultimately about what happens outside of the session, so being able to help clients apply what we discuss to their relationships, work, parenting, recovery, and daily responsibilities is particularly meaningful to me.
I bring more than clinical training into the therapy room. My military background, advocacy work, crisis stabilization experience, EMDR training, and experience working with diverse populations have all shaped the therapist I am today.
One of the things I care deeply about is reducing the stigma associated with mental health treatment. You do not have to be falling apart to deserve support, and asking for help does not mean you are incapable of handling your life.
I believe people can be both a work in progress and incredibly resilient at the same time. Therapy is not about becoming perfect. It is about becoming more aware, more intentional, and better equipped to navigate life when things inevitably get difficult.