My core approach to counseling and working with clients is person-centered, strengths-based, and trauma-informed. I believe that healing and growth begins with a safe, trusting relationship, which means I focus on creating a warm, supportive, nonjudgmental space where children, teens, and adults can be met with empathy, transparency, unconditional positive regard, and acceptance. In being met with these conditions, I believe every person has the inner strength and intrinsic motivation to heal, grow, and overcome challenges.

Being trauma-informed means that I acknowledge the widespread impact of trauma and understand how past traumatic experiences can impact a person’s thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and relationships. I work gently and mindfully, meeting clients where they are at with sensitivity and ensuring that they feel safe and in control of their own process. I listen, support, and walk-alongside them at their own pace while focusing on physical, emotional, and psychological safety.

In the playroom, I work from a child-centered play therapy (CCPT) lens. Since children often express themselves through play and other expressive ways rather than through words, this approach provides them with a safe, supportive environment and relationship to process feelings and experiences through play, art, movement, storytelling, and imaginative play. By providing empathy, reflective techniques, and limit-setting strategies in session, I seek to help kids feel seen and understood while helping them gain insight, self-confidence, emotional-awareness, and problem-solving skills. I also often integrate Adlerian tools and techniques into the therapeutic process, which focuses on building a child’s sense of belonging, purpose, and self-worth. While considering a child’s family, relationships, and unique personality, I view my clients holistically and value collaboration with parents, caregivers, and families to provide the best support within and outside of the counseling space. 

I believe that expressive arts is for everyone, which is why I also offer integrative somatic and expressive arts approaches for tweens, teens, and young adults as well. Expressive arts uses creativity to explore emotions, process life experiences, and release stress, giving people another outlet beyond talk therapy to express what might be hard to put into words. This may include arts-based interventions, such as drawing, painting, guided imagery, or music, and other creative approaches based on what feels natural to my clients. No matter the age or stage of life, my goal is to give clients the space and tools to reconnect with their inner strength, make sense of their experiences, grow at their own pace, and move forward with greater confidence and self-awareness.