My Story

My journey to becoming a therapist has been an interesting one. When I started undergrad in 2010, I was a saxophone major. I planned on becoming a musician. Life threw a wrench in my plans when I was diagnosed with Bipolar One at the end of my first semester. Through the next year, I realized I needed a change. I chose to enter the field of mental health because I had been there. I understood what it meant to live with struggles no one could see. I knew my lived experience would be an asset. This understanding would make me a fantastic therapist. I would make sure my clients felt seen and heard.

I graduated with a Bachelors of Social Work, spending time working with adults with mental illness while interning at an Autism Lab. I moved to New Orleans to become a City Year Corps Member. As a teacher’s assistant in a public high school, I quickly learned about inequity, the challenges of New Orleans teens, and the reality of American public education. I also spent a few months being a street performer! I offered “Free Listening” in Jackson Square. I was amazed at the stories folks would share when they knew I was a random person they’d never see again. Y’all, I learned some WILD things.

My experiences with people expanded from there. I moved to Uganda for the Peace Corps, teaching phonics to a warm, loving group of primary students. I learned what it meant to live in community while finding who I was. My neighbors taught me how to live, cook, wash my clothes, go to the market, speak the local language. After Peace Corps, I thought I’d become a backpacker. I was wrong! New Orleans had sucked me in, as it does for so many. I came back, got my Master’s in Social Work and Public Health, and became a practicing clinician. While I have accomplished many feats, I’ve done so while navigating a chronic, invisible experience. I’ve found great clinicians and medical providers. I’ve also experienced medical neglect and hurdles when trying to access my own care. I tell you about these experiences because my own journey informs my practice. I am the best clinician I can be because my clients deserve the best. I believe therapy is a space for you to be yourself, figure out your goals, and reach them. Our sessions are driven by what YOU want, not what I think is right. Being a therapist isn’t just my job, it’s my life work. I would be honored to be part of your journey. Let’s get you where you want to go!