About

It’s always a little awkward when you walk into a counselor’s office.

You arrive with your life carried in your arms, ready to engage in a one-way relationship with a relative stranger who calls themselves a “helping professional.”

This is normal. I’ve been through it, just like everyone else who’s ever been through counseling. And to be honest, it’s always there, even if this is your second or third time around the block with counseling.

It’s okay. I’ll meet you in my waiting room and greet you with a smile, because you’re the bravest person in the world to me. You’re strong, too, although you might not realize it in that moment. We’ll shake hands, make the eye contact that most Americans do when they first meet someone new, and head into my office so we can really begin.

Let me reiterate; you are incredibly brave.

You’re about to unpack your life and that is no small feat for anyone. To be an authentic human who is open-minded, and to experience all the good things in life, means that we’re going to get bumps and bruises along the way. Sometimes both figuratively and literally, sad to say.

So, what next?

You’ve followed your beautiful, internal wisdom to counseling. My small, but comfortable little office is decorated with all the things I take on adventures behind me, some of my personal paintings I’ve made, other artwork of mine, and there’s a window bringing in that natural light.

Yes, you may move around, fidget, sit with your legs crossed, and even avoid eye contact or try to type things out to me if you so choose. Whatever will help you feel most comfortable, because I understand how awkward this is, having been there myself many times.

You might find that you want to cry, because it’s normal to feel overwhelmed by the prospect of opening up your life to someone you don’t know that well yet. Maybe it’s just how long you’ve been carrying everything; or, the prospect of self-examination.

Start wherever you feel most comfortable.

We don’t have to talk about everything in session one! We have all the time in the world.

You’re a survivor! Rome wasn’t built in a day. Good, lasting change doesn’t happen in a single counseling session. But, I guarantee that you’ll feel better simply by sharing whatever you feel most comfortable with today.

We’ll take a deep breath together, do the initial paperwork, and I’ll ask you where you’d like to start, in however much detail you like. No ulterior motive, no standards, no judgment.

This is about you.

All counselors need to know what counseling is like.

Even though we aren’t quite well-acquainted yet, I’m not going to ask you to do anything that I haven’t been through myself. I know that this is scary stuff.

We can go at whatever pace you’d like – fast with lots of rapids, or more relaxed with plenty of emotional breaks. We’ll figure that out and hit our stride together only about 3 sessions in.

I’ve been there.

It’s my own experiences of feeling paradoxical, or like some kind of enigma, that led me to my path as a counselor and subsequent counselee.

I’ve struggled with trauma, grief, spiritual abuse, body image issues, contemplating harming myself, not feeling feminine, and wondering what femininity and gender roles even mean.

I’ve wrestled with my purpose in life which always seems to be evolving, break-ups, horrible employment, family feuds, moving back into my parents’ house, and moving back out again.

All of these things, no matter how big or how small, were always okay to discuss with my counselors. While standing on the shoulders of giants, it is my hope to impart the gifts that they’ve given to me, to you.