As someone who has spent more than half their life in therapy and now as a therapeutic professional, I recognize and honor that therapists come in all shapes, sizes, mind-frames and approaches. As a practitioner, I approach the therapeutic relationship with an open mind and welcoming spirit. I show up as a human first, inviting you to do the same. Our time spent together is a place for you to express yourself and feel things as they come to you. Then, we can work together to process them. This is your space and your time and I am honored that you are willing to share it with me.
MY FOCUS AREAS
Religious Trauma Syndrome | This area of specialty is primarily focused on helping anyone who has left a damaging religious practice. We can work to find hope, instill belief in self and reframe locus of control.
Grief | Loss is an unfortunate guarantee in our lives. Together, we can work to remember and honor who you have lost and make way for a path towards healing.
Trauma Support and Recovery | Re-centering understanding of trauma throughout the lifespan is our goal. We will work together toward your recovery so you can thrive post-trauma. I am particularly excited to work with individuals who deal with housing injustice, financial trauma and disordered relationships.
Co-occurring disorders | While not certified as a CADC, I have professional experience with folx who have a mental health diagnosis and a substance use disorder. My role is to support you with the interaction between the two and wherever you are in the recovery spectrum.
MY IDEAL CLIENT
My ideal client is any person who is willing to show up and share their struggles. Recognizing the need for support and actually asking for it are huge accomplishments. I enjoy working with folx who want to explore themselves, are open to the therapeutic process and want to work with someone who is not as stoic as therapists are portrayed in the media. If you enjoy honest communication, gentle feedback and have a desire to care for yourself, we would be a good match.
GOAL
As a LGBTQ+ and queer-identified therapist, I seek to create a confidential space for clients from diverse identities and backgrounds where truths can be shared, sorrows can be honored and joy can be found. I am affirming and celebratory of all who fall in the LGBTQ+ community. Sessions with me take place in a “come as you are” setting. Fear and shame are not practiced here. As a practitioner focused in cultural humility, please know I will seek to educate myself on any topics in which I am not well-informed--leaving room for you to be able to speak about and process any and all identities, sexualities and rituals.
APPROACH
As a therapist, I believe you are the expert in your own life. I will work with you to identify your strengths and abilities when it comes to any issues you face, both past and present. My approach is strengths-based, in order to assist you with identifying and working towards your goals. Additionally, I tend to operate from a queer, feminist, trauma-informed approach, but I feel it is important to always be learning and growing as a therapist, to bring the highest level of care to you and all the people who work with me.
Professionally, I feel called to work and support work toward ending all forms of systemic oppression, including racism, classism, sexism, transphobia, fatphobia, body shaming and heterosexism. Our journey together is inextricably linked to the world in which we live and the communities where we love and learn.
When it comes to sessions, I strive to be an active listener and work in a kind, direct manner to help you use your strengths and address any weaknesses in order to replace tired practices with invigorating and restoring ones. By utilizing engaging, open questions, I seek to help you more clearly understand what things fall into and out of our range of responsibility. This makes way for more present thinking, greater ownership of feelings and often can help increase identifications of self-worth and dignity.
Additional areas of focus: Addictions, Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Intimacy-related issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Bipolar disorder, Coping with life changes, ADHD, BDSM, Kink, Alternative Sex Culture, Family of Origin Issues, Guilt and shame, Isolation / loneliness, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Post-traumatic stress, Self-love, Sexuality
Clinical approaches: Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Trauma-Focused Therapy
IL LCSW 149.023315
PA LCSW CW022962