My experience with teens and adults began in 2006 as an educator. Those years gave me a front-row seat to the emotional struggles many teens quietly carry—and to the worry and heartbreak experienced by the parents who love them.

I heard teens say things like:

What will my parents think of me when they see my grades?

Nothing I do goes right.

I really want friends…why doesn’t anyone like me?

And parents often shared similar worries:

What am I doing wrong as a parent?

Why is this so hard?

Nothing seems to work; I think I am failing at this.

I returned to school in 2020 and earned a Master of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Through my work at the Houston Galveston Institute (now known as HGI Counseling Services) and then at a mood and anxiety center, I have had the opportunity to work with teens and adults with anxiety and depression. I use evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions and behaviors while developing practical tools they can use outside of therapy.

My approach to therapy is collaborative, compassionate and tailored to each client’s unique needs and goals. I work with clients to identify the patterns that are keeping the stuck and develop small shifts to help them move toward lasting change.

I believe people are far more resilient than they often realize. One of the greatest privileges of my work is watching clients begin to see themselves with greater compassion, discover strengths they didn’t know they had, and realize they don’t have to face life’s challenges alone.