With you in your most challenging seasons.

As a relational therapist, I believe relationships and connection are at the heart of healing and growth, and therefore I prioritize our therapeutic relationship and emotional safety above all else.

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Style & Approach

In our earliest sessions, I focus heavily on building trust and a secure bond with you. From there, my work becomes a way of being with you, reflecting, validating, experiencing, confronting, and integrating. This work isn’t just about good listening. I am emotionally attuned, responsive and engaged in applying appropriate interventions at strategic moments. But the quality of our therapeutic relationship serves as the most important factor for meaningful outcomes and lasting change, especially when we’re dealing with high-stakes relational pain. You are courageous, resourceful and wired for self-healing; I merely provide the necessary conditions for change.

We will spend a lot of time on how you’re processing your most emotionally charged experiences to expand your awareness of its impact on how you view yourself, view others and engage with the world. Awareness of emotion is central to healthy functioning, so by slowing down your processing we will have the opportunity to access, honor and restructure your emotional experiences allowing for the integration of new meaning.

I will allow your pain to break my heart. It is an honor to witness your wounds and vulnerability.

I am not a “blank slate” therapist; I will be myself, so you can be yourself. I am also non-pathologizing. This is because your story is far too complex (and beautiful) to slap a label on. I believe every emotion matters and is trying to tell you something. Likewise, every behavior of yours (even the most unsavory ones) makes sense in context and likely was adapted to serve an important function of protection. You’re not a problem to be fixed, you’re a person needing a witness to your pain and a companion in your healing journey. I will help make the frightening manageable, the alien familiar, the unacceptable tolerable.

I am culturally- and circumstantially-sensitive and work well with clients from all backgrounds, beliefs, and walks of life. I’ve always cared deeply about people and their unique stories, and like most therapists, I have personal life experiences that led me to pursue a job dedicated to helping others move through their most challenging seasons.

My therapeutic roots and training are in Emotionally Focused Therapy which reflects the best of systemic, experiential and humanistic, approaches. I also know every client is unique and will respond differently to various approaches at different phases in healing and, therefore, I may pull from other evidence-based and empirically supported theories and modalities.

I’M ALSO PRETTY BIG ON THE BASICS.

I’m going to want to know about and will regularly check in on your sleep, movement, nutrition, connection to community/support systems, screen use, substance use, etc. My clients also typically find me sharing distress tolerance and emotional regulation skills with them. I encourage self-compassion practices and other techniques for more mindful living.

These habits and practices will help support your nervous system, manage distressing symptoms (e.g., anxious and depressive symptoms, panic, post-traumatic stress, stress/overwhelm) and improve your capacity for emotional security and greater healing both in and out of sessions.

Background

    • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate (#205950)

    • Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (#98219)

    • Master of Science in Counseling from Southern Methodist University (CACREP-accredited)

    • Bachelor of Science in Public Relations from The University of Texas in Austin

    • ICEEFT Approved Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) Externship

    • Prepare/Enrich Premarital and Marital Certified Facilitator

I am dual licensed and receiving supervision from Diana Walla, MS, LPC-S, LMFT-S.

During undergrad at The University of Texas in Austin, I was a Division I student-athlete on the women’s varsity soccer team. (Hook ‘em.) My extensive background in team athletics had me wired at a young age for the never-ending pursuit of perfection progress, dependance on others, and comfort with pain and adversity. This mindset has helped fuel my desire to help clients find their own earned resiliency and to build the lives and relationships they desire.

I also want you to know that therapy is a second career for me. For more than a decade I’ve dedicated much of my time and energy to a wonderful career at a global PR and marketing agency. There are many transferable skills, including an understanding of the demands of a fast-paced workplace, that I bring to my practice. It wasn’t easy making the pivot, but I shook it all up to be here because I believe in this work and I believe in you.

When I’m not with clients or furthering my clinical knowledge and skills, you’ll find me filling my cup through time with family and friends; exercising; watching an action thriller, superhero or fantasy movie while fighting my Great Dane for couch positioning; being a homebody; or making a to-do list when I should just be resting.