Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor

I am a clinician at our Reston clinic who provides therapy services!

My ideal client is someone in the middle of change, whether that means navigating the effects of trauma, adjusting to a new identity, or processing grief after a major life transition. You may be part of the LGBTQ+ community, in a non-traditional relationship, or connected to the military, either as a partner or in active service. You might be working through a diagnosis like bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, anxiety, depression, or a dissociative disorder. Or maybe you’re trying to make sense of who you are after something shifted, becoming a parent, ending a relationship, losing someone important, or taking on a new role that doesn’t feel like it fits yet.

Some people come to therapy wanting structure and direction. Others need space to move at their own pace. There’s no one right way to engage in therapy. This is your space, and how we use it depends on what feels most useful and manageable for you. Whether you want a slower, reflective process or a more active, goal-oriented one, we’ll find a rhythm that works for where you are.

I work with individuals and couples who are ready to explore painful or confusing experiences, this can include trauma from sexual abuse, childhood experiences, religious settings, or systems that made you feel unsafe or invisible. I also support couples facing challenges like infidelity, navigating relationship expectations, or exploring consensual non-monogamy. Whether you’re processing something recent or unpacking something that’s been with you for years, therapy can be a place to examine what’s shaped you and how you want to move forward.

You may not know exactly what outcome you’re looking for right now, and that’s okay. Therapy isn’t always about a clear solution. For some, it’s about feeling safe in your body again. For others, it’s gaining clarity, setting boundaries, or reconnecting with yourself. The goal is that, over time, you feel more grounded and aligned with who you are. We’ll define what progress means for you, and we’ll go from there.

I specialize in working with trauma (including sexual, childhood, and religious trauma), identity exploration, relationship challenges, and mood and dissociative disorders such as bipolar disorder, BPD, anxiety, depression, and derealization. I support both individuals and couples, including those in the LGBTQ+ community, military families, and clients in non-traditional or polyamorous relationships.

Before transitioning to private practice, I worked in a high-acuity inpatient setting at the Psychiatric Institute of Washington (PIW), where I provided care to individuals in crisis. That experience sharpened my ability to hold space for intense emotions, support clients through acute mental health episodes, and bring a calm, grounded presence to complex clinical situations.

In therapy, I draw from a range of approaches tailored to your needs. These include Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) to deepen emotional insight and connection, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify and shift unhelpful thought patterns, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

(ACT) to help you build psychological flexibility. I also integrate somatic techniques to support nervous system regulation and Gestalt interventions to bring awareness to how you experience yourself and others in the present moment.

Whether you prefer to take things slowly or want more structure and direction, I offer a flexible approach grounded in both compassion and clinical expertise. You don’t need to have all the answers when you start therapy, many people come in just wanting to feel more stable, less overwhelmed, or more like themselves again. Together, we’ll define what meaningful progress looks like for you.

Therapists are human too, and I come to this work not just with training and clinical experience, but with life behind me. I’ve lived abroad, navigated cultural shifts, explored faith and spiritual change, and moved through the grief of divorce. Like many of my clients, I’ve had seasons where I’ve sat on the other side of the couch. I know what it’s like to ask hard questions, to feel stuck, and to hope for something better.

Because of that, I bring both professional tools and deep respect for the courage it takes to show up for yourself in therapy. You don’t need to be in crisis to reach out, just curious enough to start. If you’re ready to begin, or even just wondering if this could help, I invite you to reach out. There’s space here for you to figure things out, at your own pace, without pressure or judgment.