My Story & Approach

My path to becoming a therapist began with a deep curiosity about the human experience—our suffering, our resilience, and our longing for meaning. From a young age, I was drawn to understanding what makes us feel alive, connected, and free. That drive eventually led me off the beaten path: hitchhiking across the U.S., exploring altered states of consciousness, and spending years immersed in meditation and contemplative practice.

Zen & Transformation – Life Before Therapy

Over the course of seven years in Zen centers and Buddhist monasteries—including a cumulative year of silent retreat—I learned to sit with discomfort, witness my inner world without judgment, and meet others with presence and care. I trained in Japan, Thailand, Burma, and the U.S. before returning to complete my clinical education in mental health counseling.

Therapy Approach – What I Bring to Clients

Today, I bring the steadiness of that training into my work with clients—blending mindfulness with practical, evidence-based approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), and polyvagal-informed care. Therapy with me is both supportive and gently challenging. I offer a grounded, compassionate space where you can slow down, reconnect with your inner wisdom, and move toward what truly matters.

My Style – What It’s Like to Work With Me

Clients describe me as calm, intuitive, and easy to talk to. I value humor, honesty, and meeting people exactly where they are. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, trauma, identity shifts, the deeper questions of life, or other challenges, I’ll walk alongside you as we explore what’s holding you back—and begin to create a life that feels more free, connected—and fully, unmistakably yours.