ABOUT
WELCOME
Hey there fellow human being, life is hard, isn't it? Sometimes it's cruel and unfair. Especially when the world wasn't designed for you. Rather, society, culture, and authority tries to fit us into their rigid boxes so we can be normal (whatever that means) according to their worldview. That's a pretty depressing and lonely way to exist. Fortunately, you're not alone. I know firsthand what it's like to wander in the margins, constantly feeling like an outsider. Whereas most areas of our lives involve masking who we are to survive, I believe therapy offers a chance to heal by offering a space to be yourself.
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Therapy isn't like seeing your doctor. It's more of an art that involves building a relationship rather than providing a service to fix an issue. Our goal is to have a conversation and focus on the process of what you bring to session rather than applying a particular approach to produce outcomes. That's where change can happen.
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I'm selective with who I work with, because sometimes you vibe with people and sometimes you don't. Generally, I work with creatives (e.g. artists, writers, musicians), marginalized identities (BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, ND), and young adults (Millennials, Gen Z). Pretty much if you've found yourself "othered" throughout your life.
BIO
As a kid, I've always been fascinated (and perplexed) with how people relate to one another. My interest in Psychology began in Honors European Studies class sophomore year of high school. I found an AP Psych textbook discarded by one of the seniors and decided to read it for fun. This led me to take AP Psychology two years later, then major in Psychology at UW where I was more fascinated with roaming the libraries and research databases for articles about interpersonal relationships. After a quarter-life crisis, where I abandoned the idea of pursuing a Ph.D. in Social Psychology and began pursuing my creative interests, I ended up on the artsy side of the field: counseling and psychotherapy. It was definitely a more practical choice and it's been far more rewarding to work directly with people.
MY APPROACH
I'm not here to tell you how to live your life. If you're looking for advice, coping skills, or tools, I'm not the therapist for you. Sure, I can offer input on those, but that doesn't address lasting change. My hope is to hold space for you as you navigate life challenges. After all, given your unique experiences and intersecting identities, you're the expert of your own life.
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There is no one-sized-fits-all approach to therapy and the type of therapy used isn't as important as the relationship between the therapist and client. That's why it's important to make sure we vibe, so you can get a worthwhile experience!
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My approach to therapy stems from my view of life being inevitably filled with pain and suffering, especially when you don't fit neatly (or at all) into society's expectations. That's why Existential Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) make the most sense for me. I find that they can help us accept unchangeable parts of the human condition, so we can find meaning and peace. If having exploratory and philosophical conversations is your sort of thing, let's chat!
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EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALS
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Master of Arts in Education, Community Counseling, Seattle University, 2018
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Bachelor of Science, Psychology, University of Washington, 2013
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Licensed Mental Health Counselor (#LH61481853)
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National Certified Counselor, accredited by the National Board for Certified Counselors
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Washington Mental Health Counselors Association (WMHCA), Member
AREAS OF FOCUS
Rather than say I "specialize" in anything as if I know all there is to know about a particular topic, my practice's areas of focus draw from my personal lived experience, especially as a creative and outsider (if you'd like to know more personal details about me if it'd help to see if we're a good fit, feel free to ask). So it's no surprise my clients are often creatives, and some type of BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or neurodivergent person. And maybe after all those comments that I look young, these clients tend to be Millennials and Gen Z adults (although there are outliers!).
If you're feeling stuck and trying to figure out what to do with this difficult thing we call life, I'm here to offer support.
To sum it up for the people who'd rather read a list:
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Creativity and creative blocks
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Career and life direction
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Otherness and marginalization
In addition, I often encounter these other common issues:
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Depression
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Anxiety
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Trauma
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Adjustment issues and life changes
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Grief and loss
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Interpersonal relationship struggles
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Existential and ontological issues (e.g. finding meaning and purpose, being-in-the-world, identity, existential loneliness)
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PHONE
425-780-5058
ADDRESS
401 Olympia Ave NE
Mailbox 66
Renton, WA 98056
If you are interested in potentially working together, the best way to reach me is via email. From there, we can schedule a free 15-20 minute phone consultation to explore what brings you to counseling and to address questions you may have. If I determine we may be a good fit, we can schedule a first session.
I try to respond to messages within 24 hours. Please be aware that e-mail cannot be guaranteed to be confidential, so if you have clinical information to convey, it's preferable to share that via phone or through the secure client portal.
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If you are currently in crisis, please call 911, or the 24-hour King County Crisis Line, at 1-866-427-4747.
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Have more questions? See the FAQs.
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