Therapeutic Approach

You are the expert of your own experience; it’s what you know best. I am here to listen to you tell me what you know best. I partner with my clients; encouraging you to have a sense of freedom and ownership over your own mental health. The therapeutic relationship we create together can be the agent of change, and authenticity and genuine connection move your therapy forward. I promise to uphold my end and be 100% me while maintaining the boundaries of the relationship. My hope in doing so is that you can be 100% you without fear. We work together in the therapeutic space to help you progress toward what you want most for yourself. In our work together you can expect to deepen your relationship with your own feelings, to hear the information your feelings contain. 

My perspective as a therapist is informed by feminist theory, which, simply put, is an effort to feel powerful in your skin. I want men to feel strength in their emotions. I want women to feel strength in their voice. I want gender non-conforming people to feel strength in their identity. I combine this perspective with NARM– which is a trauma-informed, relational model that focuses on your agency, and is particularly effective in treating complex trauma. Each therapeutic relationship is different, and requires a unique combination of tools to be the most effective. When addressing behavior specifically, I also pull from interventions such as mindfulness and CBT.

Specializations and Interests

As a white therapist, I commit myself to acknowledging all the ways in which my privilege manifests, and I look to use that privilege in ways that work towards dismantling white supremacy. As a non-binary person, I value challenging our initial perspectives, and looking beyond face-value. It is important to challenge ourselves, so that we may understand ourselves better, and in turn, understand those around us. The best way to challenge ourselves is through self-empathy, care, and support, honoring our past selves to create our future.

I work with parents of trans and gender non-conforming children to help process challenges and concerns that arise; creating a safe space to explore said challenges, while focusing on building a supportive relationship. I work with people in the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly trans and gender non-conforming adolescents and adults. I also like to work with people in non-traditional relationship structures. As a therapist I am affirming of all populations, relationships structures, and occupations– including kink, sex work, and non-monogamous relationships.

Biography

During my time at Chicago Institute for Change, I have received a year-long training in the NARM therapeutic approach. Prior to Chicago Institute for Change, I worked as a group therapist for the Second City’s “improv for Anxiety,” I completed a Fellowship at Live Oak, and my clinical internship was at Hartgrove Hospital.

Before becoming a therapist I was an actor, improviser, and clown. Transitioning from a performing arts background to a new career in therapy was not a huge leap. Understanding human behavior was what drew me to performing arts. I saw first hand the benefit of balancing communication between mind and body in order to grapple with difficult emotions. I bring with me the lessons I learned as a performer to help my clients address fear and strengthen their voice. 

If you would like to hear me discuss my therapeutic perspective more, I was a guest on NARM’s official podcast, and you can listen to that here:

https://narmtraining.com/transformingtrauma/episode-080/