I have been passionate about mental health from a very young age. As a teen, I struggled to find and make meaningful connections and make sense of the world. I felt like no one could understand me, and I often felt not seen. I had difficulties coping and often wished I could escape and disappear, so I coped with many unhealthy means. As an immigrant, mental health and emotional well-being were taboo topics in my family and culture; I felt I had no one to talk to. After facing many changes, life transitions, and various traumas, I knew there had to be something I could do. I realized the way I was living my life wasn’t working any longer; it was not sustainable. I sought information to try to heal myself and understand the symptoms I was experiencing. Many books, classes, and some wonderful therapists later, I began to heal and make peace with the wounds that once brought me so much pain and chaos. I turned my personal quest for knowledge and healing into a career to help others do the same, and there is nothing that is more rewarding. In my free time, I love to take photos, write, make art, and take dance classes. I also enjoy spending time with my family and our dogs. I’ve learned to prioritize self-care and engage in more of what brings me joy. I love creating a healthy work-life balance and mirroring to my clients how to achieve the same, whether with school, social life, or something else. Life can be hard sometimes, and you do not have to do it alone! Fun fact: I am a foodie and will scope out all of the most epic restaurants to try no matter what city I am in. Sometimes, I will go great lengths just to try some new, weird, cool, or yummy food/beverage! I have extensive experience working with clients navigating life changes/transitions (school, friendships, relationships, etc.), anxiety, depression, and various traumas. I offer a supportive, compassionate, gentle, and safe environment where clients can unpack their concerns and learn about the root cause of their symptoms. I understand firsthand how challenging it is to seek help; my goal is to help this feel like less of a scary experience and more of a positive, helpful, and effective therapeutic experience. In sessions, I provide individuals with tangible tools for coping with distress (triggers, life stressors, mental health symptoms, etc.) as well as structured and helpful information on topics that matter to them (navigating relational challenges, setting boundaries, engaging in self-care, how to manage symptoms with holistic means, etc.). I also love helping individuals understand and unpack their identity. As a queer individual, it took me some time to figure out who I was in this world, and this piece is constantly evolving. I want to help others by providing a safe space to explore who they are (or who they are becoming) and how to achieve acceptance and greater peace with their identity in this world. In today’s day and age, it can be scary to fully embrace who we are. I am here as a fellow traveler on this journey to help you peel back the layers and achieve inner peace. I also have lots of experience helping individuals find direction in their life and make decisions that are true to who they are. Sometimes, we may experience obsessive or intrusive thoughts, be unsure of the future, or feel hopeless in this world. I can help you process your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors and find meaning in your life.