I am a second-generation marriage & family therapist, who set out at the beginning of my graduate program to learn more about applying the concepts and techniques of systems therapy to queer, neurodivergent, non-monogamous, & sexually-marginalized peoples. Along the way, I came into greater clarity about my own identities and relationship-orientation (a real 20-somethings journey, if I may say so). I am a white, generally able-bodied, tall genderqueer individual (they/she), who has identified with more than half of the letters and symbols in LGBTQIA+ throughout my life.

I was privileged enough to grow up with very sex-positive, queer, free-thinking people as a kid, so I often felt that things normalized in my house and with the community I grew up with were suddenly treated as problematic or gross at school and elsewhere. My life has been an ongoing project of meeting people where they’re at culturally, spiritually, & experientially, and critically but respectfully engaging with the beliefs they’ve (and we’ve) internalized and perpetuated.

I’ve also been greatly impacted by observing the ways my privileges as a white person have somewhat protected me from the degradation and shame put on young neurodivergent people. I was a “gifted kid” and put in specialized classes with IEPs & donuts, with other disproportionately white & light-skinned kids; whereas black, brown, & darker-skinned kids with similar neurotypes were labelled as “problem kids” and punished. Among spiritual adults, I was called an “indigo child” for feeling deeply and frequently becoming emotionally overwhelmed, whereas other children of different races & ethnicities were more often chastised and dismissed. It is a deeply-seated desire of mine to disrupt the shame and disregard many queer and neurodiverse people, of many races and cultures, have internalized towards themselves, and to vehemently advocate for systemic rights & protections for queer & neurodiverse people of color.

My special interests include:

Dimension 20 & NADDPOD (D&D)

Dropout.TV

T-Pain

This scene from Pirates of the Caribbean I committed to memory at ten years old

Current hyperfixations being auditioned for special interests include:

Specifically the Count The Rice episode of Game Changer (dropout.tv)

This Cost ’N Mayor YT video

This Nick Kroll tiktok

Supernanny

Some of the ways I think and what I value in therapy are shaped by: Resmaa Menakem’s Somatic Abolitionism, Derek Scott’s (RIP) approach to IFS, Harlene Anderson’s writings on collaborative therapy, Betty Martin’s Wheel of Consent, and teachings on Jacques Lacan and Freud by philosophy professor Errol Aschwanden (my spouse). 

Some of the ways I think and what I value in life are shaped by: the writings of Mary Oliver, Toni Morrison, lucile clifton and bell hooks; the music of Adrianne Lenker; and conversations about philosophy with my partner. 

While I have my own deeply held values (which include anti-racism, trans and queer liberation, and anti-capitalism), I did not become a therapist to try and convince anyone to believe in the causes I care about. I am ultimately working in this role in service of my clients’ wellbeing, autonomy, and to prioritize their growth-oriented work, trauma recovery, or self-care. I often work with cisgender, heterosexual, monogamous, white, financially-privileged or neurotypical clients. That being said, I also believe my clients have a right to know my values, given the vulnerability that comes with therapeutic work, and to determine if I am someone they can feel comfortable or trusting enough to do this work with. 

Additionally, I believe in balancing evidence-based treatment plans & interventions with client authenticity, spirituality, & humanity. Meaning, we will talk about and work on integrating evidence-based practice, while not expecting you to operate or behave as entirely predictable or fixed. You always get to be you; we will explore some helpful ways to support you with that.