Areas We Can Work on Together
I work with college students and other adults who have issues like a severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI), incarceration and system involvement, as well as depression and anxiety. Other areas I help with include:
- Young professionals dealing with work stress, relationship difficulties, ADHD, or uncertainty about adulthood
- Persistent depression, low motivation, isolation, and feelings of hopelessness or emptiness
- Overwhelming anxiety, constant worry, panic attacks, and social anxiety
- The unique pressures of college life: academic stress, social isolation, impostersyndrome, and balancing multiple demands
- Major life transitions such as graduating, starting a career, or adjusting to independent living
- Navigating a severe mental health diagnosis, including understanding symptoms, and building a meaningful life alongside your condition
- Low self-esteem, shame, and self-criticism
- Building coping skills to manage stress, regulate emotions, and distress tolerance
- Establishing boundaries, improving communication, and developing healthier relationships
You do not need to have everything figured out before beginning therapy. We can start with what is affecting your life right now and build understanding from there.
What Therapy With Me Is Like
Therapy with me is a space where you can talk honestly about what you are experiencing without fear of judgment and minimization of your experiences. I will listen carefully, take your experiences seriously, and work alongside you to make sense of thoughts and feelings that may currently feel chaotic or unbearable.
We will begin by identifying what helps you feel grounded and able to cope with difficult moments. As our therapy sessions progress, we can explore how depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions have shaped your thoughts, relationships, and expectations. We will examine patterns that keep you stuck, beliefs that may have developed in response to painful experiences, and coping strategies that once protected you but now limit you.
I will not expect you to disclose everything immediately or push you to move faster than what you are comfortable with. We will approach difficult experiences with patience while continuing to work towards change. Recovery is usually not a straight line but periods of progress mixed with hard days and surprise setbacks. Therapy can provide a place to explore and understand your experiences without the feeling that you have failed.
Experience Working With People With Severe and Persistent Mental Illness
My professional experience includes providing therapy to adults with serious and persistent mental illness. These experiences have deepened my commitment to accessible, person-centered care that respects each client's autonomy, communication style, identity, and individual needs.
I understand that people with mental health conditions are often defined by others before they have the opportunity to define themselves. You may have been told that your diagnosis determines your future, that you are too much for others to handle, or that you should be further along than you are. Therapy can provide room to challenge those definitions and develop a more complete, authentic understanding of who you are beyond your symptoms or struggles.
Taking the Next Step
I know that beginning therapy can feel intimidating, especially if you have previously felt judged, misunderstood, or pressured to minimize what you are going through. You might worry that your struggles are not serious enough, that you are too complicated to help, or that you will not be understood.
You do not need to arrive knowing exactly what to say. We can begin with what feels most important right now and work together to understand what you need. My goal is to offer support and a relationship in which you feel heard, respected, and encouraged as you work toward greater confidence, stability, and self-acceptance.
Insurance and Payment
At this time, I accept Aetna and Midland's Choice insurance.
I also welcome self-pay clients who prefer not to use insurance for therapy. Coverage and out-of-pocket costs vary by plan, and I can help you verify your benefits before your first appointment.
Contact me to schedule a free consultation and determine whether working together feels like a good fit!