As social beings, we strive to grow relationships that meet our ever-evolving needs and desires. While we often crave the love of those around us, connecting to people, let alone ourselves, isn’t easy. Patterns of relating to others are learned early in life and are often carried over into adulthood. In our work together, I'll pay close attention to the ways you connect with me, yourself, and others so that you may learn how to create and maintain healthy relationships. 

Ask not “what’s wrong with you?” but “what happened to you?” Your experiences, symptoms, and/or illness(es) do not define you. When we encounter trauma, we often attempt to push these painful experiences out of our conscious awareness to protect ourselves. However, if we ignore these experiences without processing them, they may disrupt our lives in numerous ways. I'll work with you to address these difficult-to-process moments so that you no longer feel a need to avoid them.

The lack of culturally diverse representation within the mental health field poses a challenge for individuals looking to connect with providers who share an understanding of minority experiences. Because the therapeutic relationship is a key component of treatment, it's important for your therapist to respect the similarities and differences shared between you. Without cultural sensitivity, you may be left feeling unheard and misunderstood, which is counterproductive to therapy.