“My goal as a counselor is to improve the emotional health and connections of my community and the individuals therein.”

I am a person-centered therapist informed by relational-cultural theory. Person-centered means that the counseling session is your time. We follow your agenda, not mine. Relational-cultural theory says that interactions with others, including the society and systems in which we live, is how we know ourselves. Many of these interactions are defined by power and domination, and therapy can be a place to foster agency and self-worth and wellbeing when navigating interactions with systems of sexism, racism, ablism, homophobia, and transphobia. I believe humans heal through connection and mutual empathy. We will focus on establishing a strong therapeutic relationship, exploring your relational patterns and values, and identifying ways that you can exercise both empathy and agency in your relationships.

I use interventions from Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Mindfulness Based Self-Compassion (MBSC), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). All interventions I train in are evidence based. Emotionally Focused Therapy a model that builds security, confidence, and wellbeing through the experience of vulnerability and support in session. MBSC fosters resilience and strength by deepening respect and collaboration in your relationship with yourself. DBT is focused on skills for navigating big emotions and building the life you want to live.

I draw from other therapies as well, and adapting conventional therapies for neurodivergent populations is an area of professional interest. I consider myself a lifelong learner, and I approach every counseling relationship with cultural humility in order to understand each client’s lived experience.

I am a white non-binary transgender person, born and raised in the pacific northwest. I have deep roots in the queer and trans community; I have been involved in activism since 2010. I’m neurodivergent and highly skilled in adapting to a diversity of communication styles, as well as exploring communication differences. I was adopted and I believe that family is created through love and commitment rather than biology and obligation.

I started my career as a scientist. My background in behavioral neuroscience and primary care research gives me strong skills in understanding and implementing evidence-informed interventions. My journey then led me to public health, where I worked directly with houseless and multiply-marginalized individuals. I developed the skills to connect with all kinds of people, and gained knowledge about Portland-area resources.

I spent the early years of the pandemic working at a non-profit cycling organization, where I taught after school programs, worked retail, and developed a strong interest in the emotional dimensions of conflict resolution. I discovered that working with difficult emotions was a strength of mine that coupled nicely with my academic background. I decided to pursue counseling as a career.