My Therapeutic Foundations
I am loudly political in my local community and online. I believe therapy is innately political as it is the systemic oppression of marginalized groups and capitalism that affect our mental health the most. I am a Health At Every Size (HAES) or weight neutral provider. This means I do not promote intentional weight loss and recognize all factors that affect someone’s health - trauma, genetics, marginalized identities, socioeconomic status, abilities, mental health, etc.
I support choice in health interventions and acknowledge that our society’s obsession with weight loss and the ‘achievement’ of health has created an epidemic of fatphobia, disordered eating and ableism.
My ideal client is:
-Tired of feeling like shit and ready for a change.
-Has tried traditional talk therapy and feels like, “It was helpful for a while but I’m ready for more.”
-Is radicalized and tired of our oppressive systems and needs a therapist that understands them.
My Background
I bounced between bulimia and sub-clinical bulimia for 8 years of my life, rooted in childhood trauma and our fatphobic societal brain washing. I have dealt with generalized anxiety and panic attacks since I was a teen. There was a time in my life when I believed in my core, “I am disgusting, not good enough and unlovable.”
But THEN!… The Universe guided me to an Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist. I resolved past traumas, made peace within my system and found a source of self-worth, love and courage that I never knew possible. Don’t get me wrong - my journey is far from over (and I hope it never is) but I am grateful for the therapeutic process that saved my life!
I graduated from the University of Buffalo with my Master’s in Mental Health Counseling in 2012. I spent several years in clinics working as a therapist before shifting to an operations/management position. It did not take me long to realize my flame was burning out from that type of work! In 2017, I made one of the best decisions of my life by returning to clinical practice. I am grateful for each day that I work with my precious clients.
New York License # - 006305
Oregon License # - C8178