About

 

I help inquiring people shift away from relying on external validation for their well-being towards cultivating an inner landscape rooted in understanding, respect, and open-mindedness. Authenticity is the alignment of connection, clarity, and conviction between the internal and external world. 

Why I Do This Work

I do this work because it is deeply personal. 

The principles I speak about in therapy — authenticity, deep listening and understanding (which is not to be mistaken with condoning) — are ones I practice in my own life. 

My understanding of growth comes not only from training and study, but from rigorous self reflection and practice — from staying with discomfort, questioning my own patterns, and learning, slowly, what truly creates change. That lived experience has shaped how I guide others. Therapy asks that we temporarily close our reliable emergency exits. 

I do not ask you to confront what I have not confronted in myself.

Therapy, for me, is not about quick fixes or coddling painful beliefs. It is a disciplined, relational practice of learning to see clearly, act with integrity, and build trust in yourself over time.

Who I Help

People who:

  • Care deeply about freeing themselves from suffering and want to get to work at it
  • Want to stop living as a reaction to their family history 
  • Work hard but often feel self-critical or unsure of themselves
  • Feel stuck in current relational patterns
  • Are tired of seeking reassurance or validation outside of themselves
  • In a season of change and want to move forward thoughtfully
  • Want to live with more clarity, connection, and self-respect

I work with hardworking, thoughtful people who are often hard on themselves and ready to stop living from old patterns or for external validation. Many are navigating meaningful life transitions or grappling with questions of identity, integrity, and direction. They care deeply about living a well-rounded life and want to build self-trust, emotional intimacy with self and others, and live in a way in which they can enjoy life and readily find their way through difficult times.

If this sounds like you, let’s connect.

Practice (Etymology): “to do or perform repeatedly or habitually with the object of acquiring skill, to learn by repeated performance; to train one’s self.”

What I Help With

Breaking Negative Cycles

  • Interrupt patterns of emotional absence, confusion, or abandonment learned early in life
  • Step out of unhealthy relational dynamics that no longer reflect who you are
  • Prevent shame, instability, or unresolved pain from being passed forward
  • Create relationships rooted in choice rather than reactivity

Many of the people I work with are motivated by a deep desire not to repeat what hurt them. Together, we work to interrupt stuck patterns so these dynamics don’t unconsciously shape the next chapter of your life. This work is about repair, new pathways, and creative possibilities.

Building Self-Trust

  • Becoming responsive without shame spiraling or feeling guilt-driven
  • Reduce ruminative over-analyzing or over-functioning
  • Becoming less over-reactive or overly-passive in conflict
  • Learn to listen to and trust your own internal guidance

I help people develop the ability to respond to themselves and others without collapsing into self-criticism. This includes learning how to move out of rumination and listen more deeply to your own inner guidance. Over time, this builds confidence in your judgment and a more grounded relationship with yourself.

Soothing Harsh Inner Narratives

  • Loosen the grip of self-criticism and chronic self-doubt
  • Question long-held beliefs like “Something terrible will happen” or “I should be different”
  • Develop a calmer, more compassionate inner voice
  • Open up inner space for a steadier and more flexible sense of self.

Many clients arrive with a relentless inner dialogue that judges themselves, others, or the world. In our work, we gently examine these beliefs — not to fight them, but to question their accuracy and loosen their hold — creating space for a calmer, more stable sense of self.

Developing Integrity & Emotional Maturity

  • Grow into a way of being that feels honest and self-respecting
  • Be disciplined without becoming rigid
  • Stay relational without losing yourself
  • Feel grounded, kind, and emotionally mature

This work is about integration — learning to live with strength and softness, steadiness and the unknown. The goal is not perfection, but a way of being that feels internally aligned. This work is about learning to fall, get up, and love who you are.

Moving From Rumination to Grounded Action

  • Learn to evaluate difficult situations without fear taking over
  • Tolerate uncertainty and discomfort without shutting down
  • Make decisions that align with your values and convictions

Instead of getting stuck in cycles of overthinking, I help clients slow down, clarify what matters most, and act from conviction rather than anxiety. Over time, choices feel more intentional, steady, and self-respecting.

Development (Etymology): “the internal process of expanding and growing; a bringing out of the latent possibilities.”

Why Choose Me?

I care deeply about what I do and work diligently on my own life and mind because all negative beliefs about one’s self, others or world are recycled. There is not one original negative thought or emotion–so if I can understand my own, I’m betting that I can better understand yours because we share many of the same thoughts and feelings. 

My approach is relational, steady, and deeply attentive to who you are and what you need. I draw from a range of therapeutic approaches, always guided by your unique history, capacity, and goals. While I am passionate and dedicated, I also try not to take anything too seriously. Our work will include moments of lightness, humor, and genuine connection — which helps the deeper work feel more accessible and human.

A Steady, Long-Term Presence

I work with people over meaningful stretches of time. I know my clients’ stories and stay engaged through life’s highs and lows, and hold long arcs of growth. The work isn’t rushed or transactional — it unfolds at a pace that allows real change to take root.

I am a reliable and stabilizing presence.

Validation and Challenge

You can expect warmth, encouragement, and care — alongside honest reflection and thoughtful challenge. I work to integrate both sides of the story. I ask careful questions, offer perspectives you may not have considered, and, when needed, gently call things out. 

My goal is not to placate, but to help you grow with integrity.

Helping You See More Clearly

A central part of my work is helping people develop perceptual flexibility — the ability to see beyond fear-, shame-, or habit-driven interpretations of experience.

In our work together, I help you:

  • Notice where fear, guilt, or shame may be distorting perception
  • See strengths, possibilities, and goodness that may be easy to miss
  • Identify what is workable and life-giving, even in difficult seasons
  • Reorient attention toward clarity, steadiness, and choice

This work isn’t about positive thinking — it’s about seeing reality more fully.

Depth-Oriented, Meaningful Work

Clients often resonate with my philosophical and reflective style. I bring an appreciation for meaning, beauty, and nuance, and I work at the level of identity and character — not just symptom management. I help elevate struggle into something that can be understood, integrated, and lived through with dignity.

Our work turns decay into something generative and beautiful.

Relational, Not Transactional

Clients have described our work as professional yet close, grounded, and safe. I see you as a whole person — not a problem to fix — and I take your effort, goodness, and integrity seriously, especially when you can’t see them yourself.

I see you as a whole human being, like myself, doing the best they can.

What You Can Expect From Me in a Session:

In our sessions, you can expect me to:

  • Listen with an open, attentive mind and heart
  • Help you slow down and get still
  • Gently redirect attention when perception narrows
  • Call out effort, integrity, and goodness when they’re hard to recognize
  • Sessions with me are active, engaged, and collaborative — both thoughtful and human

Training & Credentials

 

  • Chaminade University, PsyD (Clinical Psychology)
  • University of Denver, MA (International Studies)
  • Rice University, BA (Anthropology)
  • Emotionally Focused Therapy Core Skills Training
  • EMDR Basic Training
  • Completion of the Pacific Crest Trail (a continuous footpath from Canada to Mexico)
  • Solo Wilderness Fast (School of Lost Borders)
  • Work, study, and research conducted in Mongolia, S. Korea, China, Chile, Costa Rica, & Hawai’i
  • Extensive meditation experience as a long-term Zen temple resident
  • Work experience in a variety of settings, including dishwashing, graveyard grocery shifts, cleaning houses to working for large global media think tanks (i.e. The Economist Intelligence Unit, Beijing Office). Each space offered valuable experiences that deepened and enriched my capacity to integrate various life perspectives

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