For as long as I can remember, I’ve been intrigued by human emotions. And at an early age, it was curious to me that people’s emotions did not always match their behaviors. I noticed that people who appeared confident were sometimes insecure, people who always seemed happy were often sad, and people who rejected others wanted to be accepted. I wanted to understand why people might not feel comfortable accepting or expressing their authentic feelings, and how this impacted them and their relationships.

This passion led to my decision to pursue a psychology degree with the plan to become a therapist. During that time, I took a human sexuality course which was very unlike the sex education I had received prior. It was my first introduction to conversations about sex that were not based in shame, religion, or heteronormativity.

I didn’t know it at the time, but this planted the seed for my passion to help others reclaim their sexuality and break away from sex-negative societal messages.

After graduating college, life took my career in a few different directions, as it so often does. However, I always found myself coming back to the idea of being a therapist working with both individuals and couples. I decided to pursue graduate training with the hope of helping people create and maintain authentic connections with themselves and others. Once I started working with clients, I knew that I’d found the career for me.

As my work progresses, I’ve learned that not only is it important for clients and partners to be authentic with themselves and one another, but that my own authenticity in counseling is instrumental to the therapeutic process. When working with clients, I try to hold the following quote in my mind:

 “Know all the theories, master all the techniques, but as you touch a human soul be just another human soul.” – Carl Jung

In my work as a therapist, I see often that many people struggle with sexual intimacy and sexual functioning concerns but find it difficult to talk about it for a variety of different reasons including internalized shame-based messages about sex, religious trauma, sexual trauma, and discomfort with vulnerability. Once I recognized the need for open conversations about sex in therapy, I decided to pursue training in sex therapy.

As an individual therapist, couples therapist, and sex therapist, I strive to create an open, safe, positive environment to talk about interests and concerns without shame.