As I grow as a person and counselor, I see the undeniable value and privilege of providing therapeutic services, and am deeply grateful for the opportunity to work with the community. I have been in therapy myself for many years, and to be able to be on the other side has been a powerful and authentic experience for me. I cannot imagine myself in any other line of work, and feel lucky to create such beautiful therapeutic relationships with clients. I believe the therapeutic process involves conversation and genuinity, and I hope to create a comfortable and safe place for clients to just be as they are.

 

My personal and professional experiences have made me who I am, and led me to this point in my career. I grew up as a competitive athlete, an artist and an overachiever in school, and with this came mental health battles and victories. Through these mental health struggles, I began therapy of my own and I found an interest and passion in psychology, which has led me to where I am today. In my undergraduate, I was able to volunteer at in a community center called OASIS in Boone, NC where their mission was to attend to those experiencing domestic and sexual violence and educate the community. Here I was able to experience an inviting and kind environment that was committed to helping people in need, and felt this was the energy I wanted to be a part of and exude. I was also able to work shortly at a residential trauma facility for children, and from these experiences I learned how important mental health care is to the community, and wanted to be a part of providing services to those who need it. I graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelors in Psychology and a minor in Studio Art in 2022, and am now getting my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling alongside a certification in Expressive Arts Therapy. To have combined two of my passions into one career has felt so fulfilling, and my journey to get here has been beautiful as well. My post-graduate goal is to provide individual therapy for adults and adolescents, and to focus on clients presenting issues including depression, anxiety, codependency, grief, trauma, LGBTQ+ needs, substance use, life expectations and career development.

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My theoretical orientation is not set in stone, as I am still learning and growing as a counselor. My human orientation, however, would be one of empathy, unconditional positive regard and wanting to help others in the best way I can. I want to be sure to make clients comfortable, safe and feel welcomed to be themselves in the space of therapy. At times, I can become very solution focused, wanting to make sure that in the therapeutic relationship there are goals made to guide our practice together. I tailor my particular focus to the needs of the client, and believe in Person Centered Theory meaning the client always knows themselves the best. I believe that every individual possesses the strength and potential to work through life problems, and that most issues are developmentally based. I seek to help clients discover this potential and learn skills and strategies that will help them achieve their goals through empowering and providing them with conditions for personal growth. I also recognize that there are larger systems and societal expectations that influence everyone’s day-to-day life. This is why I am a firm believer in Feminist Theory, and believe looking at how society has and can influence us mentally, emotionally and developmentally is vital in the therapeutic approach for anyone of any gender. Alongside these theoretical approaches, I find myself using Expressive Arts Therapy in many modalities and hope to continue to use Expressive Arts techniques in my future practice.

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I have lived in Boone, NC since 2018, and I have absolutely loved and appreciated my time here, and continue to do so. I have a cat named Magnolia who I love dearly. In my off time, I like to do yoga, make art, journal, spend time with friends and family and be in nature!