Pronouns: They/She

Who am I?

I come from a perspective that, although we all experience difficulties in our lives, life shouldn’t have to be this difficult. We shouldn’t have to hurt as often as we do. However, things happen that are out of our control, so how do we respond to these circumstances? I believe it is essential to take care of ourselves—our minds, bodies, and souls. Without taking care of our holistic needs, we can’t be the best versions of ourselves.

What can you expect from working with me?

When working with me, you can expect to be heard, validated, and understood. You can expect that I will enjoy hearing your story and learning about how you want to improve your life. You can expect genuineness, authenticity, and compassion.

You can expect challenging yet rewarding therapy sessions. Mental health care is challenging because we have to rewire our brains to think in ways that best serve us. We may have to unlearn thoughts and beliefs that no longer protect or serve us, upgrade our ways of being and living, and do things we don’t want to do. You can expect that I will help you navigate through the discomfort and difficulties that arise, setting intentions and goals, and put your needs and desires at the forefront of your individualized treatment plan.

You can expect that I will collaborate with your health care providers, court-appointed supervisors, and others to provide you with the best services and treatments possible. You can also expect that I will be up-to-date on the latest research, best evidence-based practices, and therapeutic interventions.

What do I do?

I would love to work with you on a variety of things, including (but not limited to): boundary-setting; communication; social, familial, and partner relationships; changing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; time and task efficiency; healing from harm and trauma; and developing skills that support your holistic well-being.

My expertise is in the following areas:

Gender identity

Sexual identity

Romantic identity

Trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Eating disorders

Mood disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety disorders)

ADHD

Substance use and dual diagnosis

I use a variety of traditional, alternative, and critical theories, frameworks, and interventions.

My favorites include:

Theories: social justice theory, trauma theories, feminist theories, and queer theories

Approaches: person-centered and humanistic therapy, compassion-focused therapy, integrative and holistic therapy, culturally-affirming and multicultural therapies, narrative therapy, positive psychology. I completed Brainspotting Phase 1 and am currently working toward certification.

Interventions: strengths-based and self-actualization therapies, interpersonal and relational therapies, motivational interviewing (MI), mindfulness practices, and emotionally-focused therapy (EFT)

I also have extensive knowledge and experiences with eclectic interventions, psychosocial theories, behavioral activation, solution-focused therapy, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), exposure and response prevention (ERP), and prolonged exposure therapy (PE).

My short-term therapeutic goals include becoming certified in Brainspotting, Internal Family Systems (IFS), imago relationship therapy, and the Gottman Method.

Who do I work with?

I am happy to work with individuals, couples, partners, and families, and can work with you short-term or long-term.

I primarily work with young adults (ages 18-29) and adults (ages 30-64), and I also enjoy working with teens (ages 13-17) and older adults (ages 65+).

Additionally, I love working with people who are LGBTQ+ and/or neurodivergent!

I also primarily work with people who have been incarcerated, served probation or parole sentences, or have law enforcement contact.

What is my educational background?

PhD in Social Work | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Expected Dec. 2023)

Minor in College Teaching

Master of Social Work (MSW) | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (2018)

Advanced Clinical Concentration, Mental Health Focus

Bachelor of Science (BS) | University of Wisconsin- Whitewater (2017)

Double-Major in Social Work and Psychology

Minor in Spanish