I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a masters in clinical social work, based in Richmond Virginia. I work with adult clients of all backgrounds, while specializing in following areas: LGBTQ+, kink/polyamory/ethically non-monogamous relationships, sex workers, and substance use/misuse recovery and harm reduction. I am passionate about helping people feel comfortable and safe in their own skins and gain tools to manage their day to day lives.
My approach
I approach therapy from a strength-based, person-centered perspective, utilizing cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and an eclectic mix of resources that best suit the individual to help further their goals. I work collaboratively with you, and you set the pace.
My focus
My focus and expertise is working with adults of all ages, however I have specific expertise working with LGBTQ+ folks, kink/poly/non-monogamous relationships, sex workers, and substance use/misuse recovery and harm reduction.
My communication style
I generally approach sessions with a lot of curiosity and openness- I ask a lot of questions, offer positive feedback, and bring a gentle sense of humor and smile to every session. I generally like to keep things focused however will meander with you if that is where you are this week. I offer a lot of resources if that's what you're interested in, and like to incorporate different exercises and thought experiments.
My journey to mental healthcare
I have always been interested in what makes people tick, and have had a lifelong passion for understanding human behavior. I am an LGBTQ provider and want to help my community heal and thrive in a world that is not always kind to us. My best sessions are ones where it feels like we can delve into things that you might not have had space or trust to share with anyone else, and I love to be a witness and partner to those moments, it inspires me.
My goals for you
Goal setting is deeply individual and is different with each person I see and is driven by the concerns they come to session with me for and changes depending on what those issues are. I have a loose framework of goals and objectives we can work towards however I believe in therapy that is deeply collaborative and so discuss each goal in order to make sure it suits you. We would continue to discuss how things are going as we proceed through sessions together.
My first session with you
Our first session would be a time to discuss what brought you to therapy, what it is you're looking to work on, and to discuss what goals you might have. I would ask questions and guide our conversation to gain a better understanding of what it is you're struggling with and work to build trust between us. I usually like to get a sense of who you are, what you care about, and where you’d like to go. People often have thoughts of their own about what has been causing them distress and are experts on their own lives.