are we a good fit?

Finding the right therapist can feel a bit like dating; you want someone whose values align with yours, who you feel comfortable opening up to, and who you just vibe with. You might need to try out several therapists before you find one who just feels right.

To help you decide whether I’m the right fit for you (or your tween/teen), here are some things about me:

My approach

I believe that all people – especially children and teens – are inherently creative, resourceful, and worthy of love, respect, and dignity. I also know that not all people have access to the same life chances. My goal is to help clients thrive in the world as it is while striving for personal and collective growth and evolution – a delicate balance of acceptance and change.

In sessions, I use a blend of person-centered counseling, feminist therapy, collaborative problem solving, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, somatic practices and mindfulness, and expressive arts. I work to build and maintain trust and safety so clients can recognize and tend to their own social and emotional needs, interrogate the systems they exist in, and develop self-awareness, self-compassion, and self-efficacy.

Students and clients have told me that I’m warm, approachable, and authentic. I especially enjoy working with queer and neurodivergent youth and their parents, and with creatives and change-makers of all kinds.

Education & Experience

I hold a Master of Science in Counseling from Portland State University; I’m a licensed school counselor and professional counselor associate. I have worked with adolescents and families since 2006, most recently as a middle school counselor for two years at an arts-focused middle- and high school with a large neurodivergent population. My graduate research focused on working with adolescents with ADHD.

I’m an AASECT-certified sexuality educator (CSE) and have almost 20 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and families as a sexuality educator, childbirth educator, and labor doula. I have published articles in popular media about sexuality, gender politics, and cultural analysis. I also wrote, hosted, and produced a podcast called Sex Ed at Home. 

I also hold a Master of Arts in Comparative Literature from the University of Colorado, where I focused on women and gender studies. There I learned to analyze stories through a critical cultural lens using feminist theories – an invaluable tool in the counseling relationship. I bring an intersectional framework to my work as a counselor and am especially skilled at working with sexual and gender minority youth.

Outside the Office

I grew up in a military family and moved around a lot, but the Pacific Northwest feels like home. I’m a mom to one delightful adolescent and one very snuggly rescue pup. On the weekends you can find me reading novels, sewing, knitting, baking, running, trying new restaurants with friends, and exploring the natural beauty of the PNW.