Numbers tell stories, and in my case, the stories they told pushed me towards becoming a therapist.
I spent months analyzing statistics for my doctoral dissertation on anxiety and depression in African Americans, but I couldn’t shake what those numbers really meant.
They weren’t just data points – they were real people needing real support. That’s when I knew research alone wasn’t enough. I needed to move from studying the problem to being part of the solution.
Growing up, my mother was a church counselor, and I’d often hear her say “Sometimes people don’t need answers – they just need someone to really listen.” Back then, I didn’t realize she was teaching me the foundation of what would become my life’s work. Now, after 15 years in healthcare and another decade in higher education, I understand that really listening is both the simplest and most radical thing we can offer each other.
Everything clicked when I discovered attachment theory. It was like finding the decoder for human relationships, answering questions I didn’t even know I’d been carrying. Suddenly therapy wasn’t just about fixing problems – it was a liberating force that could fundamentally reshape how people understand themselves and their connections to others.
“To thine own self be true” might sound like a fortune cookie, but it’s actually the cornerstone of how I work. I believe what we think and believe shapes how we experience life. So much of therapy is excavating those beliefs – keeping the ones that serve you, releasing the ones that don’t, and consciously building toward the person you want to become.
Clients tell me I’m personable and relatable while still holding them accountable. My approach is about making you the main character in your own story while we explore it together in a safe and judgment-free space where empathy rules the day and clients feel genuinely cared for. I’m not here to tell you what to do (that’s not how therapy actually works, despite what TV suggests). Instead, I help you connect with your own innate wisdom and explore your options so you can make choices that align with who you’re becoming.
Outside sessions, my faith grounds me, my friends and family keep me laughing, and I’m always reading at least two books at once.
I welcome anyone into my room who’s seeking healing, regardless of age, background, or what brings you to therapy. If you’re hesitant about starting, here’s what I know: therapy is one of those things you can only understand by experiencing it. Just start. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to be curious about your own story.
