Why I do this work
Like many of the people I work with, I spent years learning how to fit in before I learned how to be myself.
I grew up in a small Midwestern town where hard work, responsibility, and doing the right thing were deeply valued.
Those lessons taught me perseverance, commitment, and how to show up for others. They also taught me how to adapt.
I became skilled at reading the room, adapting to expectations, and becoming the version of myself that felt most acceptable to the people around me.
I learned how to achieve, perform, and appear okay—even when I wasn't.
What I didn't learn was how to slow down and ask what I was actually feeling, what I truly wanted, or what kind of life felt meaningful to me.
From the outside, life looked successful. I did well in school, competed as a college athlete, and checked many of the boxes I thought I was supposed to check. But underneath it all, I often felt disconnected from myself.
Over time, I realized that many of the strategies that had helped me feel safe were also keeping me from fully living. That realization began a journey of reconnecting with myself, practicing greater self-compassion, questioning old assumptions, and building a life guided more by values than fear.
That journey continues today, and it shapes the way I sit with every person who walks into my office.The people I work with come from all kinds of backgrounds, but many share a similar desire beneath the surface: to better understand themselves, strengthen their relationships, and build a life that feels meaningful.
My goal isn't to tell you who to be. It's to help you understand yourself more clearly, navigate life's challenges with greater confidence, and create meaningful change that lasts.If you're looking for a place to better understand yourself, navigate life's challenges, and create meaningful change, I'd be honored to walk alongside you.
A Few Things I Believe
Over the years, both personally and professionally, a few ideas have continued to shape the way I understand people, growth, and what it means to live well.
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Your worth is not something you earn.
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Self-compassion creates more lasting change than self-criticism.
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Many of the patterns we struggle with today began as creative attempts to stay safe, connected, or accepted.
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Most people make far more sense when we understand the story behind their behavior.
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Growth often begins when we stop trying to become someone else and start understanding who we already are.
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Lasting change happens through small, consistent steps—not overnight transformation.
Outside the office
When I'm not working with clients, you'll usually find me hiking Colorado trails, working out, reading a good book, spending time with close friends, or searching for a great cup of coffee and a meaningful conversation.
I'm naturally curious and love learning about people, relationships, and what helps us live well. As a former college athlete, I've always appreciated growth, challenge, and discipline. Over time, I've come to value rest and self-compassion just as much—and to believe that life is meant to be lived, not simply optimized.
Those same values shape how I show up as a therapist every day.