What made you decide to become a counselor?

The world always seemed like such a big difficult place to me. I knew from the time that I was little that I wanted to do something to at least make the world a little softer and brighter. I tried volunteering, mentoring, and making documentaries, but nothing seemed quite right. Working with people had always been my passion and I decided to go back to school to become a therapist because I always believed in the quote, “Helping one person might not change the world, but it could change the world for one person.”

If you could teach the world one skill or technique to improve their lives, what would it be?

Emotion regulation. I think there are a lot of things we miss out on growing up, especially when we grow up in homes that aren’t ideal. But one vital skill that most people never learn is how to manage emotions. The average person walking down the street doesn’t know what to do if they feel panic, rage, or loneliness. When you start to learn that emotions are just signals from your body and how to interpret them, then you can understand your emotions better. Once you understand your emotions, you can begin to cope with them effectively, and honestly that can feel like a superpower.

Have you personally been in counseling and if so, what did you learn about yourself?

 Yes, I know just what it’s like to feel vulnerable and sit on the other side of the office. I learned that no one is immune from struggle and breaking down the idea of perfection as the ideal standard is very powerful. I also learned that just giving voice to my own truth is very freeing.

If you could recommend one book to all your clients, what would it be? 

Clarity and Connection by Yung Pueblo. It is a beautifully relatable book about healing, relationships, and our connection with ourselves.

Who is your ideal client?

I love working with clients who are ready to do the work. Sometimes therapy can be difficult and uncomfortable. I’ll always hang in there with you if you are ready. Know that sometimes, with your consent, I might offer you a perspective or a solution that could be difficult to hear. But I will always be kind, and I won’t push you if you aren’t ready.

What inspires you to help others?

I have so much privilege but I have also been through some really difficult struggles. It is a really beautiful experience to work with others who are going through similar struggles. I feel like it gives meaning to what I have been through and allows me to relate more fully to my clients.

How do you personally practice self-care?

I say “no”. If I don’t want to do something, I’m honest. I always show up for myself. I also make sure to unplug and take time away from social media to be in the world doing things that I love.

If you are hosting a dinner party, who are the 3 people you would invite and why? 

Yung Pueblo, because he is the most beautiful, insightful author I’ve ever read. I think he could teach me how to live life in a more authentic and meaningful way. Brené Brown, because she is an amazing woman who, through her work, has taught me so much about courage, vulnerability, and authenticity. It would be amazing to meet such an accomplished woman who could elevate my understanding of how to be such a strong fearless woman. Third, I would invite Jónsi, from Sigur Rós, because no matter where I am when I hear his music, I feel like I am at home. I think someone who understands humanity in this way would be indescribable to meet.

How do you relate to Mindfulness? How do you incorporate it in your sessions?

To me, mindfulness is about present moment awareness with curiosity and without judgment. The value of this is learning to get out of our heads and live in the moment. A way I like to get into mindfulness is with grounding work, where we focus on noticing the present moment by focusing on the five senses. Additionally, if a client has never tried meditation before, often we can try a short meditation together and discuss the experience.