about
You're looking for someone you can trust to hear your story. Let me share a little about myself with you so you know who you're working with.
I graduated with my MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and became licensed as a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate in South Carolina in 2024.
But before all that, I was a military spouse and a homeschool mom. I spent years teaching middle schoolers. I taught ESL. I worked in community development which is a professional way to say I planned events and helped neighbors become friends in their apartment communities.
I’m also an introvert. I prefer mountains over beaches. I spent most of my life thinking I was a cat person, but I have learned that I am actually a dog person. I can deal with pineapple on pizza, but I will never choose it for myself. Oh, and I hate small talk and ice breaker questions, so we can skip all of that when we’re working together.
So what does a session with me look like?
Your first session is really just a chance for us to get to know each other. You’ll have space to tell me your story, what’s been going on, and what you’re hoping will change.
I’ll ask questions, of course, but it’s not an interrogation. Think of it more like a conversation. We’re equals in this room. I may have the degree and the training, but you are the expert on you. You know your life and your experiences better than I ever could.
Maybe you’re dealing with anxiety, anger, grief, confusion, burnout—or you’re not even sure exactly what’s wrong. That’s okay. You don’t have to come in with everything figured out. We’ll start where you are and figure it out together.
As we get to know each other, we’ll talk about what you want to be different and come up with some goals together. Then, week by week, we’ll work toward them.
Sometimes I’ll challenge you. I might ask you to look at something differently or gently point out a pattern I’m noticing. I’ll be honest with you, but I’ll also meet you with compassion. My goal isn’t to judge you or tell you who you should be. It’s to help you understand yourself and make the changes you want to make.
We’ll check in on your goals along the way and adjust them if we need to. And honestly, some weeks you may come in knowing exactly what you want to talk about, while other weeks you might say, “I have no idea. I just know I’m overwhelmed.” That’s okay too.
I may occasionally use an assessment, especially when we first start working together. They can give us some helpful information, but they don’t tell the whole story. What you tell me matters most.
Ultimately, therapy is your time. My job is to walk alongside you, ask the questions that might help, offer a different perspective when you need one, and create a space where you can be honest about what’s really going on.
You don’t have to have it all figured out before you come in. You just have to be willing to start.
