Background
A lifelong, guiding compass of mine has been a passion for supporting fundamental rights and needs. I became a therapist following 12 years as a human rights attorney and after discovering that my truest interest is in supporting others’ unique humanity and the birthright of relational connection.
My experience spans a variety of contexts, including providing crisis intervention and emotional support on a crisis line; engaging families and children navigating child welfare issues; supporting clients who have experienced emotional or physical trauma and are seeking social support and legal protections on that basis (I no longer work in a legal capacity); and serving as a clinician and case manager for clients seeking support related to anxiety, trauma, grief and loss, depression, loneliness, chronic pain, psychotic conditions, and other types of distress.
Education, credentials, affiliations
Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Washington State, license #61478506
Master of Arts, Psychology, Seattle University
Juris Doctor, University of Virginia School of Law
Bachelor of Arts, University of Washington
Member, Northwest Alliance for Psychoanalytic Study
Member, Washington Mental Health Counselors Association
PACT Level I Certified
Core values and beliefs
Collaboration
I view therapy as a collaborative experience in which our relationship is an ingredient for change. I show up as myself and with a reverence for the courage it takes for any of us to reveal ourselves. Our work together is fundamentally rooted in relationship and the co-creation of something that’s based on your unique needs, experiences, strengths, and self.
Patience and process
When we are distressed, we often (and understandably!) want a swift and simple fix. Many of us also suffer under an intense culture of “productivity” in our day-to-day world, feeling pressure to “get things done,” including our own healing. The path to healing usually requires patience in the face of these things. You may find that it brings you a sense of freedom or greater understanding of yourself as well as discomfort, frustration, and at times, grief or pain. My intention is to accompany and journey with you in this. If you feel stuck or resistant at times, my aim will be to trust that feeling, to support you to be patient, kind to yourself and brave, and to make space for things to emerge however they are meant to.
Your culture, history and experience are inherently important
“There is no universal psychiatric reality and […] in terms of psychological knowledge and practice, the only valid perspective is one that reflects the culture of the people served.” (Dr. Wade Nobles)
Going beyond dualities
“There can be two or more ways of knowing and this can be a harmonious process.” (Eduardo Duran, Healing the Soul Wound)
Recognizing oppressive forces, the political, and our environment
My practice is shaped by my responsibility to be anti-racist, my understanding that psychology and therapy are not apolitical (dynamics of power and privilege exist in all aspects of our world, including the therapy room), and my belief that our identities are relevant in the therapeutic space. I understand suffering and distress not as a function of individual pathology but as something that is always in some way connected to the world and environment that it emerges from.
We heal together
“What has been wounded in a relationship must be, after all, healed in a relationship.” (Annie Rogers, A Shining Affliction)