I have always had a fascination with the brain for as long as I can remember. Because of that, I was immediately drawn to the field of psychology. While I was originally more interested biology side of studying the brain and figuring out how it worked, through my studies, I really found myself becoming more and more interested in the human side of things. I wanted to learn all about how the brain affects people, their behaviors, thoughts, and emotions, and in so doing, learn the ways in which I could help those who are struggling with their mental health. This led me to pursue mental health counseling further in graduate school so I could learn how to be there to support others in need. Mental health advocacy is my biggest passion and it is my goal in life to reduce the stigma around mental illness in whatever ways that I can.

I take a very client-centered approach towards counseling where the individual has the say in our progress moving forward. I do not believe in the power dynamic where the therapist has all the answers and decides everything for the client. From my perspective, the therapist serves to assist and support the client in their journey towards improving their own mental health. The client is the one steering the ship; the therapist just helps to keep it moving in the right direction. To do this, I believe it is a therapist’s job to provide the tools needed to bring about whatever success looks like for a client. If a client is looking for someone to be there to listen and hear them out week to week, a therapist can be that person. Or if a client strives to make active changes in their life through exercises and repeated practice of various techniques, a therapist can be there to provide those strategies and guide their use. I seek to mold myself to be and provide whatever it is the client needs most at this time in their life.

I think telehealth revolutionized therapy. The pandemic forced therapy to become modernized in order to be accessible. However, even after the pandemic, telehealth still remains an accessible option for therapy. Some clients simply lack the time to come to sessions in person, or maybe just feel more comfortable talking to someone from the comfort of their own home. Telehealth serves to break down the barriers to therapy that would otherwise prevent these individuals from seeking treatment. With the barrier to therapy lowering, the number of people giving it a try has drastically increased sparking talks of mental health worldwide. Through this coverage, mental health advocacy has become more widespread and there is a stronger community of support for those out there who are struggling. I look forward to seeing how technology further enhances therapy in the years to come.