My Approach
We generally have no problem recognizing when something is off but we aren't always so great at knowing what it is or what to do about it. This is where therapy can have the biggest impact on our lives. Many of the people I work with will say “I don’t know why I’m even complaining about this?!” My job is to help you better understand yourself so that you can feel less overwhelmed and more confident in how you choose to navigate your day-to-day life.
I support a conversational style of therapy focused on making sure you feel heard and understood. I’m not a “blank slate” therapist which means that you’ll see my personality come through in our talks. I’ll joke, use some profanity, and on occasion you might even see me have a brain fart. I practice transparency and find value in calling something like it is, oftentimes with humor. People generally describe me as patient, gentle, and sincere, which are qualities that allow me to hold you accountable in a supportive way.
In addition to identifying the past and present influences on why you might be struggling, we'll put together an 'emotional toolbox' that will include the variety of skills that will help you to move forward in a different way. It's important to me that you identify the tools that make sense for your lifestyle, as they will lay the foundation for helping you to address the issues that brought you to therapy.
Let's Talk!
Have questions? Interested in working together? Shoot me an email or log into the Client Portal to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation.
Current Clients
Log in to see available appointment times, complete paperwork, update payment information, etc.
Common Issues
Worry and Uncertainty
You’re feeling burnt out, worried, and constantly going over the same thought again and again in your head. You're heart is racing, palms are clammy, your shoulders are so tense. Worry has this nasty way of permeating so much of our lives even when things are actually going pretty well, you feel it in your mind and in your body. In therapy you’ll get a better understanding of how anxiety shows up in your thoughts and actions, and how it is impacting you physically. By understanding the difference you'll know what tools you need to use to not only address it in the moment but to also help limit the intensity of it in the future.
Saying "No" and People Pleasing
You’ve been in a cycle of avoiding conflict and constantly making sure everyone else is happy. But what about you? What sacrifices are you making to keep the peace? We’ll work on identifying what rules and feelings are dictating your relationships, and what incremental changes you can make to feel less burdened by worrying so much about others.
You'll also learn how to be more honest and direct without feeling guilty. Many times you don't speak up for yourself out of fear about how it'll be received. When you do say something you are already way past your breaking point and you lash out or seethe with resentment. Let’s work on identifying what you need and how to communicate it so you don’t have to continue feeling taken advantage of or pretending “it’s fine."
Perfectionism and a Bad Case of the "Shoulds"
Having everything the way it should be is interfering with your ability to move forward in your life. You get caught up in fear of not being good enough or being wrong, which causes you to stick to what you know best and limit yourself from new experiences. You spend so much time worrying about what others will think of you that each decision you make is based on avoiding judgment and rejection. I'll help you to understand the fears that are holding you back and support you in overcoming them. You'll learn to say “good enough” and to mean it so you can make time for what’s most important.
About Me
"I’m not strange, weird, off, nor crazy. My reality is just different from yours."
-Lewis Carroll
I was born and raised in California, now living in Nashville with my husband, two dogs, two cats, and a lot of freshwater fish (a COVID hobby that has taken over my husband’s office). I’ve been in practice for almost nine years as a Marriage and Family Therapist. My experience includes using a combination of evidenced based practices (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic, and Dialectical and Behavioral Therapy) to support young working professionals, parents, and adolescents in both outpatient and inpatient settings.
I received my Master's degree in Counseling at San Francisco State University and my Bachelor's degree in Art Practice and the History of Art from the University of California, Berkeley. Based on my own journey as an artist, it has always been important to me to inspire others to connect to their own creativity and individuality, which has carried over into how I approach therapy.
I continue to invest in opportunities for professional growth and regularly participate in consultation, continuing education, and training opportunities. I also stay connected with other professionals in my field and am currently a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and the Tennessee Association of Marital and Family Therapists.
