Understanding ourselves can be a tricky undertaking and I’m here to help support nonbinary, transgender, and gender expansive and questioning youth through the process of building an understanding and respect of who they are and how they connect with themselves and others. As a transgender, nonbinary counselor myself, I can offer a unique perspective to support healthy identity development for nonbinary and transgender youth. I specialize in working with youth ages 16 and under and my educational and professional backgrounds support and inform my work as a counselor.
With a professional background that includes over 10 years of experience working with youth in both a preschool setting and providing childcare for families in their homes, as well as a decade of working with nonbinary and transgender people as the founding director of support programs for Tranzmission, I have a solid foundation to draw from in our work together. My educational background allows me to offer informed support to under-served populations from a creative place that also uses curiosity and exploration about our relationship to the body and its role in mental health. Having already received training in massage therapy, an AA in studio art and a BA in Psychology, I went on to pursue an MA from Appalachian State University in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Graduating in 2017 with a concentration in Marriage and Family Counseling as well as a certificate in Systemic Multicultural Counseling focused on transgender issues, my studies concentrated on the use of evidence based practices for under-served populations such as individuals with IDD, and nonbinary, transgender, and LGBQ+ individuals. I’ve been honored to be able to present my research on these topics to other counselors at national, regional, and local conferences and workshops since 2017.
I work from a foundation of person-centered therapy, meaning that what we will work on together in sessions is specific to the needs and personalities of my clients. I may use cognitive-behavioral therapy, expressive arts techniques, mindfulness, body awareness, or other approaches depending on what best suits each client. I like to work from a strengths based perspective, seeing what in your life works for you and helping you to find ways to improve things in your life that aren’t working so well, while also developing healthy coping strategies to get you through. Together we will create goals and I will support you as you work towards them. I want to get to know my clients and support them in getting to know and understand themselves in ways that help them to cultivate more ease, creativity, and satisfaction in their lives.
With a professional background that includes over 10 years of experience working with youth in both a preschool setting and providing childcare for families in their homes, as well as a decade of working with nonbinary and transgender people as the founding director of support programs for Tranzmission, I have a solid foundation to draw from in our work together. My educational background allows me to offer informed support to under-served populations from a creative place that also uses curiosity and exploration about our relationship to the body and its role in mental health. Having already received training in massage therapy, an AA in studio art and a BA in Psychology, I went on to pursue an MA from Appalachian State University in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Graduating in 2017 with a concentration in Marriage and Family Counseling as well as a certificate in Systemic Multicultural Counseling focused on transgender issues, my studies concentrated on the use of evidence based practices for under-served populations such as individuals with IDD, and nonbinary, transgender, and LGBQ+ individuals. I’ve been honored to be able to present my research on these topics to other counselors at national, regional, and local conferences and workshops since 2017.
I work from a foundation of person-centered therapy, meaning that what we will work on together in sessions is specific to the needs and personalities of my clients. I may use cognitive-behavioral therapy, expressive arts techniques, mindfulness, body awareness, or other approaches depending on what best suits each client. I like to work from a strengths based perspective, seeing what in your life works for you and helping you to find ways to improve things in your life that aren’t working so well, while also developing healthy coping strategies to get you through. Together we will create goals and I will support you as you work towards them. I want to get to know my clients and support them in getting to know and understand themselves in ways that help them to cultivate more ease, creativity, and satisfaction in their lives.