Growing up, we often find ourselves trying to fit the “proper mold” that society pressures us to fit into. We keep moving forward in a direction so quickly, trying to keep up with the daily tasks that we lose track of what or who we really want in our lives. Somewhere along the way we may forget the things that make us who we are; that fuel rather than drain us.

In my practice I will challenge you to slow down and take deep breaths while we focus look inwards to help you tap into your intuition again. We will also reach outwards through the relational contexts we all coexist with to reignite that sense of hope and desire for an authentic life.

         As a clinician trained in Integrative Systemic Therapy, I will be your guide as you navigate how your relationships and circumstances have impacted you. We will look at all of the varying parts of ourselves and how they interact with the parts of others through our therapeutic relationship. This includes facing our deepest selves with compassion, care, and empathy.

I will always prioritize your needs first and remind you of the autonomy you have, both inside and outside of the therapy room. While there are benefits to get a little lost at times, I am here to help ensure you are staying on the path you both want and need.

         Currently in my work I turn to Emotion-Focused Therapy and Internal Family Systems when understanding and processing the information provided for treatment. I also lean on a contextual framework in order to understand the generations of impact our thoughts and behaviors may have on us. I highly value community and cultural attunement in my practice to utilize the best components of collectivist and individualist cultures tailored to you. I work from an anti-racist, kink/BDSM/fetish-aware, LGBTQ/TGNC affirmative, trauma informed, sex work informed, and relational/sex diverse lens.

Experience in these areas are derived from experience both personally and in research during my Graduate studies. I’ve earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Philosophy at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and my Master of Science degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Northwestern University. During my graduate studies I participated in the Community Outreach program, working with local marginalized communities in Evanston. This includes trainings in somatic, dance therapy, art therapy, and trauma-informed practice. I have worked as a Teaching Assistant under Dr. Alexandra Solomon in her Marriage 101: Building Loving and Lasting relationships course and have contributed to creating forms for various theories in both the MFT and Counseling field under Dr. Diane Gehart. Research Assistant projects I have been lucky to be a part of include relational diversity, sexual diversity, and substance use.

AFFILIATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS:

• Member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT)

• Member of The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT)

Supervisor: Rachel Zar, PhD, LMFT, CST