First and foremost, I am a helper.

I knew I wanted to be a therapist when I went to college at 18.

Then, I was confronted with real life issues and I thought to myself: “Hey, am I the one to really help people? No, that doesn’t make sense - I’m too flawed.” I listened to this fear and immediately changed my major.

A few years later I found myself working as a kind of helper, but in a much different capacity. I spent these younger adult years unsatisfied with my professional life — I loved helping others and many aspects of my work, but something was missing and it left me struggling with existential concerns often. During these years, I was deeply entrenched in figuring out how my own upbringing and unique life experiences shaped me — I found answers to these questions in therapy, writing, exercise (and in particular, heavy weight lifting) and by living out some difficult experiences.

As time went on, I experienced a series of epiphanies: learning about self-compassion as a practice and deep-diving into theories about shame were life-altering for me. These breakthroughs helped me to finally accept that 18-year old me was right: I needed to help others in a more profound way. Thus, my journey to becoming a therapist began. Since starting graduate school I have never felt more fulfilled with my work.

Outside of my work, I enjoy spending my time with family and friends, taking long walks along the coastline in Northern California, reading fiction and keeping up with the news and pop culture. You’ll often find a light-roast coffee in my favorite mug and either some classical strings or pop music on in the background.