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There are many sources of psychological pain.
Stress, trauma, depression, and anxiety are common sources of pain. However, none of these labels help you to do something about healing from the pain. Come and explore what it is that you need to do and to understand about yourself to reduce the psychological pain in your life.
Relationships
Relationships are a source of pain, distress, stress, and hopelessness. On the other hand, relationships are a source of comfort, stability, strength, belonging, and joy. When you are suffering in your relationships, it’s difficult to see how these relationships can be a source of anything but misery.
Couples and polyamorous people come to me to find comfort, stability, strength, belonging, and joy in their relationships. I look at every relationship as a unique expression that requires custom solutions to problems that seem to be too big to overcome. Relationships can overcome major problems like constant fighting, infidelity, and substance use. I have developed a program that I adapt to fit the issues your relationship faces.
Neurodiversity
Over the course of individual and relational work it can become apparent that there is some form of neurodivergence at work. More well-known forms of neurodivergence like ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are often overlooked and undiagnosed in adults. Those of us who grew up during times where ADHD and ASD weren’t understood or even looked for, could grow up with a highly distorted self-image that affects, among other things, our self-esteem. This can lead to seeing ourselves as incapable, lazy, “difficult,” weird, anti-social, “flakey,” etc. Beyond that, undiagnosed neurodivergence can lead to poor outcomes that impact our health, relationships, self-care, education and employment.
I’m a late-diagnosed neurodivergent therapist. What this means is that I’ve gone through life struggling more than my peers, being misunderstood, and, sometimes, being completely overwhelmed without knowing why. Once diagnosed, I was able to do understand where I needed accommodations to make my life easier and to reduce overwhelm.
My search for what it means to be a neurodivergent therapist led me to seek training to become a certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist and an ADHD - Certified Clinical Services Provider. This has helped me to reform my practice to become Neurodiversity Affirming. I empower my clients to create their own goals and to focus on their strengths rather than make attempts to fit neurotypical standards. We work together using your strengths to make life better, easier, and less overwhelming.
LGBTQIA+
I am all too familiar with growing up gay in a heterosexist society. The struggle to survive can include the all but impossible task of discovering yourself while hiding who you are. As a child, I knew I was different and so did the other children and adults in my life. I didn’t know exactly how I was different or why. The children and adults in my life assumed they knew how I was different. I was treated differently from other children. Like many of us, I was harassed, discriminated against, bullied, and assaulted. It’s nothing short of a miracle that I’ve survived to become who I am today.
I don’t pretend to know everyone’s struggle in discovering and living their identity. I can empathize without making assumptions about you. This is necessary to create a safe enough place where you can explore what it means to be you struggling with your particular issues, celebrating your particular strengths, and overcoming your particular challenges in life.
Kink, BDSM, and Polyamory
Stigma is real when it comes to seeking psychotherapy when you are kinky or are into any form of BDSM whether or not you are polyamorous, non-monogamous, or monogamous. Some may pathologize how you organize your relationships, your kinks, and the way you live out power dynamics.
I strive to work with people who are marginalized even in the psycho-therapeutic world. I see you as a whole human being who is responsible enough to tell me what it is you are struggling with. We develop goals together so that therapy becomes about helping you to fully embrace and celebrate who you are.
My interest here comes from an abiding curiosity and respect for the diversity of human experience. You deserve to be supported in ways that celebrate who you are while helping you to pursue your own goals that can make life better for you. This process is something we do together through understanding and respect.
About Me
Over the years of being a therapist, I've been privileged to assist adolescents through seniors in navigating overwhelming feelings of isolation, depression, and anxiety when it seems like no one understands. I earned my MA in Counseling Psychology from John F. Kennedy University graduating in 2005. In 2013, I became a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California, and I extended my practice to Nevada in 2022.
I'm originally from the Chicago Area. I’ve had a wide range of professional experience before becoming a therapist. I've worked as a Laborer, International Market Analyst, Assistant Manager in Retail, and as a Web Developer and Designer. People have always come to me for support. Outside of my professional life, I have volunteered as a counselor for unhoused people and LGBTQIA+ youth at non-profit agencies on an ongoing basis. In addition, I taught English as a Second Language to new immigrants for a few years.
As a therapist I’ve been privileged to support people seeking asylum in the US, unhoused LGBTQIA+ youth, and unhoused foster youth transitioning into adulthood.
As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I understand the nuances of diverse relationships and identities. I'm well-versed in working with polyamory, BDSM, and kink dynamics. My expertise extends to high-conflict couples, infidelity, and addiction issues. I draw from the Gottman Method and the insights of Ellyn Bader's Developmental Model to guide my work with relationships.
As a late-diagnosed neurodivergent therapist, I sought training to become a certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist and an ADHD - Certified Clinical Services Provider. This has helped me to approach therapy from Neurodiversity Affirming lens. I empower my clients to create their own goals and to focus on their strengths rather than make attempts to fit neurotypical standards. We work together using your strengths to make life better, easier, and less overwhelming.
I'm dedicated to evolving and integrating new approaches to psychotherapy. Stay tuned for the latest updates and enhancements in my approach.