Black. Queer. Masculine. Trans. Poor. White. Feminine. Cis. Rich.
Some are many; no one is just one.
Intersectionality.
It’s the idea that everyone has their own unique experiences because of how their social categorizations overlap. Intersectionality acknowledges that everything and anything that can marginalize people – sex, gender, sexuality, language, economic status, religion, nationality, and physical ability exists and affects how we interact with the world and how the world interacts with us. Many of us have been held to one social category or another from the day we came into the world. Unfortunately, when we choose or discover that our path is different than what our parents, friends, coworkers, or even ourselves had originally planned or decided for us, it can cause inner turmoil, external persecution, and pain. What’s worse is that it can be a struggle to have our intersectionality acknowledged causing our individual, unique experiences and even our very existences to be downplayed, dismissed, or invalidated.
Growing up, this was an issue that I faced. I was not at all who my family expected or wanted me to be, and in more ways than one. As hurtful as those experiences were for me, I have always been a proponent of not being stuck. Instead of focusing on who others wanted me to be, I put my energy into helping and supporting others in the way I desired to be supported. This eventually led me to work as a peer support person, which led to my desire to work in mental health, which led to a career in counseling. As a psychologist, I dedicate my professional life to helping people discover and celebrate their intersecting identities. I provide a space where folx can be validated and supported. My personal favorite is that I help people who seriously want to make a change accomplish their goals and get unstuck.
I believe that everyone needs and can benefit from therapy. Whether you are considering therapy for yourself or your relationship, engaging in therapy is a pivotal piece to having success. Entering into a therapeutic relationship and finding a therapist who is the right fit can do you a lot of good. No matter how busy my schedule gets, I always carve out time to ensure I receive counseling myself. Mental health is a priority, and when it is neglected, it can negatively affect all areas of your life. It is my belief that each person already has some tools inside of them to help them accomplish their goals. I am here to support you on your journey and provide you with additional tools to help you meet whatever your therapeutic goals are in a no-judgment, no-shame zone. I firmly believe that the only way to do something different is to do something different, and I am committed to helping you do just that in whatever way makes sense for you.
My therapeutic approach is informed by interpersonal repair. Through psychodynamic, humanistic, trauma-informed, and cognitive-behavioral therapy, I can support youth 14+, adults, and couples. I specialize in providing services to people across the lifespan with autism spectrum disorders, BIPOC, the LGBTQ+ community, and the kink community. I specialize in treating people experiencing depression, complex trauma, and relationship conflicts, as well as those seeking support with identity development, sexual and gender exploration, expression, and identity affirmation. This list is not exhaustive, so I encourage you to reach out today to see if we will be a good fit for accomplishing your therapeutic goals.
