My journey to becoming a therapist was full of different twists and turns and experiences. I was a student athlete with expectations of perfectionism that consumed me. I was a volleyball coach that was so burned out I cried myself to sleep at the exhaustion. I felt like I had nowhere to turn. No one that “got me.” I externally valued mental health early on but thought to myself that counseling wasn’t necessary. I stuck to superficial postings of motivational and toxic positivity quotes and called it good enough. As a college athlete, I can recall my schedule being so rigid that when I had even a moment of free time, I experienced significant struggle in allowing myself any downtime that I had not “earned.” Years of coaching felt like I was on a revolving hamster wheel and it was time for change. I became a mental health therapist for athletes and high performers because I saw a gap in that area of care, and I wanted to find a way to make sure others had the opportunity to be heard.
Mental health stigma in competitive atmospheres teaches us to mask emotions, pretend they don’t exist, and sweep issues and thoughts under a rug. But these things don’t just go away. They show up in unhealthy coping means such as substance use, disordered eating behaviors, anxiety, depression, or performance struggles in your realm. Through my own experience in therapy and processing, I’ve learned that life doesn’t have to be pushed to the limits every single day. Life is meant to have space to just be. Sitting still, both physically and emotionally, can be painful for those that have learned that perpetual motion is the only way to live. But pushing outside of your comfort zone is where the magic happens.
Taking the first step to reach out can feel scary, sure. You deserve to put yourself, your true self, first and uncover all the different layers of who you are. I take a person-centered, client-led approach to therapy – diving into what is important to you.
I enjoy playing and coaching volleyball, attending live sports events, watching plenty of Schitt’s Creek and Parks and Rec, and hanging out with my two precious cats, Oswald and Oliver.
As a former college athlete and coach, I know the vulnerability it takes to even be reading this information right now for fear of admitting weakness or struggle. I want to help you work towards finding inner peace and the confidence and ability to stay present in your fast-paced and wonderful life.
