WELCOME

I love being a therapist. Sitting with others while they learn, grow, and heal is an incredible experience, and I always feel so privileged to be a part of it. If you’re looking at this page, you might be looking to do one or all three of those things, and that’s awesome. I like to think of therapy as making a map: you go to the edge of what you know about yourself and begin to chart new territory, creating something that is yours and is useful to you. I help others make those maps. I point out geographic points, explore new places with you, and ask questions about how you want to use all this new data, and encourage you to go where you want to go.

OUR WORK

I work with people from rural, working-class, and authoritarian (religious and family) backgrounds who left the place they came from or are thinking of leaving the place they came from. The leaving might seem like a matter of logistics, but there is a cultural, emotional, and relational aftermath that can be challenging and confusing for years or even decades. The people you come from might not understand us anymore or even disapprove. You might struggle to connect with the people you know now, feeling like an imposter, or like you’re trying to speak a new language. You might frequently be surprised by old beliefs and ways of doing things that take over and cause frustration. This can leave you dealing with ongoing anxiety, panic, estrangement, loneliness, depression, and grief.

The work we do is in that after, whether you’ve just come to this new place or have been there for a while. Our work is to make sense of the world you came from and the new world you’re in. To deconstruct old beliefs that don’t work anymore and figure out how to live out your chosen beliefs. To take on new perspectives and tell new stories that relieve suffering. That help you develop relationship boundaries that are safe and life-giving.

All who want to know themselves better and lead more authentic lives are welcome. I am queer and trans affirming. I also work with couples and families.

ABOUT ME

I have over 10 years of experience providing psychotherapy to adults and couples. There are many ways to become a therapist; I chose to study clinical social work (Loyola University Chicago ‘13), which teaches us to think not only about the person, but also their environment and how it affects their behavior and reproduces patterns of marginalization and oppression. I am a member of the National Association of Social Workers and follow the NASW Code of Ethics. As an undergrad I studied Art History (University of Chicago, Illinois ‘05), which taught me to think about human problems not only from a social or psychological point of view, but also from a humanistic point of view. This education deeply informs my work, which is humanistic at its core. I use mindfulness, solution-focused, and existentialist frameworks, never forgetting that the most important framework is the one that you create for yourself based on your own experience and values. I value hospitality, honesty, collaboration, authenticity, humor, and an attitude of radical welcome and acceptance.

MAKING AN APPOINTMENT

So much of good therapy is a good fit between therapist and client. If you think we might be a good fit, there’s only one way to find out: making an appointment. Just click on the Contact button at the top and send me an email. As long as my schedule permits, I am happy to schedule a 15 minute phone consultation with you or you to talk about how I can be helpful to you. During consultation we will also talk about rates, insurance, and schedule. At the moment, I am prioritizing in-person appointments at my River North and Andersonville offices in Chicago. Still, I am happy to talk with Wisconsin residents about online work.