My passion for trauma recovery grew organically out of my wish for joy, self-acceptance, and belonging. I began working in the mental health field after college and have over 15 years of postgraduate clinical experience.

A little more about me and my roots…I grew up on the west coast and had pretty early exposure to concepts of illness, recovery, and the process of integrative health. I’ve always felt deeply as an empath before knowing there was an actual term for that. I noticed that being in nature helped me to feel more calm and confident, and this drew me to working in wilderness therapy. 

At a young age, cancer shook my very being. While part of me felt grateful to be alive, another part of me struggled to stay grounded in the present. Even after the cancer was gone, I felt as though my skin could not contain all of my feelings. Or, I’d just go frozen and zone out. Sick of this cycle, I got curious about relational psychotherapy and body-based healing methods for trauma recovery. As both a clinician and a client, I learned the powerful combination of integrative somatic and relational psychotherapy to heal trauma.

About my education and credentials…I earned a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2010 from Appalachian State University. I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#1435) in North Carolina. I’m also certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) through EMDRIA, which means I have completed advanced training and extensive consultation beyond Basic EMDR training. 

It is my honor to work with individual adults. In the past, I have worked in community-based mental healthcare, as well as MAT (Medication-assisted treatment) recovery program for addiction and harm reduction. I’ve also worked previously as a therapist with college athletes and in the private practice setting with couples and families. It’s also a passion of mine to help connect people with other specialized providers to support integrative care.

If we find in the course of our individual work together that you may benefit from couples or family counseling, I’m happy to offer referrals to colleagues in my professional network.

I believe…every person deserves to have access to quality mental health support. It takes courage to show up and ask for help, and I strive to walk with you authentically. I value compassion, humor, learning, and collaboration in the therapeutic relationship. While I am not an expert on anti-oppression or antiracism, I continually study this area and reflect on how my actions can uplift work that is already being done to interrupt racism and systemic inequity.

I recognize that I am always learning in my relationships and approach therapy with the same curiosity. I also believe in the innate wisdom and adaptability of our body minds.