Therapy is a way for you to speak unabashedly about your thoughts and experiences, with the trust and confidence that you are worthy of respect and your words are worth listening to. I’ve always been described as a warm person, so becoming a therapist for me has been a way to pair my natural warmth with the skills and techniques that help you increase your ability to notice and manage your emotions.

In this space, your job is to be you. Maybe in your life, people haven’t deeply listened to you or respected your boundaries. Therapy isn’t about changing them, though that’s definitely a hope that can linger. Therapy is about changing the patterns that aren’t working for you anymore, so that when someone does push your boundaries or when you find yourself emotionally off balance, you know how to navigate it and make decisions based on your needs and values.

For me, one of the great privileges of being a therapist is being able to notice the social intricacies of the human experience. You can’t just read a book and think you know enough about someone else’s experience. I might share an identity with you, but that doesn’t mean our life experiences are the same. My goal is to always approach your words and experiences with compassion, levity, and kindness.

The idea is not that I will always get it right – that’s why we are a partnership. I bring the tools and ability to attune to things you might not realize about yourself, and you bring a deep understanding of your own history and values. The idea is that we will team together to help you reach your goals and deepen your ability to trust yourself.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate with the State of Washington (#SC61166185). I regularly seek consultation from colleagues as well as my licensed supervisor, Katherine Walter, MSW, LICSW, CSW-G (LICSW #LW 60136151).