I know what it's like to live with that nagging sense of inadequacy.

To feel stuck and confused in relationships. To constantly doubt your abilities, perceptions, and worth. 

It can all feel so debilitating. 

Therapy was a game-changer for me. I spent years trying to understand my experiences as a woman from an academic perspective, and those were immensely valuable. I learned about all of the societal and cultural pressures women in America face. I learned about the destructive influences of media culture on our sense of identity and value in the world. I even learned about various forms of pain we can experience.

Yet I discovered that what I really needed was healing on an emotional level. I didn't realize how crucial it is to look inside yourself and confront your own wounded places. I soon found that my decision to go there - or to avoid going there - would affect everything else.

I realized that I didn't want to go through my life letting the expectations of society or others define who I am. I wanted to really know myself - the woman I believe God created me to be, who had been buried underneath an appearance, accolades, and people-pleasing. I wanted to know if I could really be enough without those things.

Along the way, I realized that coming to know and value yourself is the key to having more authentic and life-giving relationships. In fact, you can't truly have one without the other. I had been so used to feeling confusion and anxiety in my relationships that I didn't know they could be any different. And yet, they are.

For me, the road to healing and growth has been long, and at times painful. Yet it has also proved to be an incredible adventure, and I've come out on the other side transformed. 

My story shapes why I do what I do. I believe in the power of therapy because I have experienced it's effects directly in my own life. I feel most alive when I am helping women to discover themselves in fresh ways, much like my therapists have done for me over the years. Creating that same space for other women brings me a deep sense of purpose and joy.

A bit more about me...

I'm a passionate wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. Yet I'm so much more than my roles, and I continue to uncover these layers through my experiences in all types of relationships. My relationships are my lifelines to God and to my truest self, and my investment in learning how to be healthy within them has continued to pay dividends over the years.

Therapy aside, you can usually find me crafting my next loaf of sourdough, journaling over an oatmilk latte, tuning into at least three audiobooks at once, hiking along a forest-y path, baking and having dance parties with my son Tiersen, crafting and catching up with treasured girlfriends, or deep in conversation with my therapist husband Tim, who is probably cooking something delicious.

My education and qualifications: 

I love being a student and have spent my fair share of time in the classroom! I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Women's Studies from Duke University, my Masters of Theological Studies from Duke Divinity School, and my Masters of Christian Counseling from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Charlotte. I'm a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate working towards full licensure in North Carolina. I have been practicing for seven years.

I consider myself to be a lifelong learner, so I'm grateful that my profession requires me to do continuing education every year (yes, I know, nerd-alert)! I have specific training in trauma therapies, and I consider myself an eclectic therapist, which means I borrow from several different modalities according to your specific needs. My favorite modalities to use are Emotionally-Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy, and Trauma Resiliency Model.

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