I grew up in Virginia Beach and I feel most comfortable by the water. When I moved to Atlanta for graduate school, I missed easy access to the ocean but made it work down south for 9 years! I loved Atlanta for many of the same reasons that made me want to leave… IYKYK. Came back to Virginia in 2024 and am loving the space, peace, and sense of normalcy. I’m here with Cocoa and Austin - both wildly cute.

I became a therapist after a serious re-routing of my path after college. I got caught with a fake ID my junior year and lost the job lined up for me at a big bank. Not knowing what to do next and having extra time in my schedule during my senior year, I added psychology as a minor and then went for an internship at Virginia Tech’s Family Therapy Center where PhD students trained. The director at the time, Erika, interviewed me and said something that struck me: “You have to do this. The way you think and process information, you are a therapist.” There are few experiences where you find yourself in such an organic and sincere moment. I could see and feel she was telling me the truth. I was offered the internship. The first time, they said, offered to a business student, and I accepted it.

Turns out Erika was right and being a therapist is one of the most natural things I’ve done. I think the only other thing I could put in the same ballpark is being a fitness trainer. It’s not lost on me how fortunate I am to be able to use my gifts for work! Often when I’m with my clients, it feels like I’m not working at all because it’s so enjoyable and satisfying.

Towards the end of my senior year, I applied for graduate school for Marriage and Family Therapy and two months after graduation I moved to Atlanta.

I started going to therapy consistently during grad school, mainly dealing with relationship issues. I had been in therapy in college for a few sessions which was also kickstarted by a breakup. I still wasn’t connecting the dots that I had relationship issues in general and despite learning about Attachment in school, I didn’t think I qualified as an insecurely attached person! I consistently got feedback throughout my life about how confident I was. Always involved in school activities and sports, holding leadership positions, and knowing how to be in social situations. So the idea of being anxious or avoidant just didn’t seem to fit my public persona. My most private, romantic interests and connections though definitely did fit the mold for insecure attachment.

I was an achiever and socially skilled, but I lacked self-esteem - I regularly saw the person across from me as more valuable than myself. I didn’t have boundaries - I gave without assessing my limits or if the relationship called for me so be so generous. I hardly spoke up - I just hoped the other person would begin to treat me better or finally ask about me. I did more for others than I did for myself and I became resentful, tired, and full of self-doubt.

Through therapy, reading, studying, listening, reflecting, and dating(!) I went on my journey from insecure to secure attachment. Now, I enjoy helping others do the same.

Fitness is still a big part of my life. The summer after I graduated from VT, I became a certified personal trainer and have kept my certification up-to-date ever since. I’ve also added Fitness Nutrition Specialist and Health Coach to my certs. The gym really is a happy place for me, somewhere I feel most sure of myself while also challenging myself to be better.

I know what it’s like to do the personal, intimate, and hard work of getting to know myself, confronting my past, and taking full responsibility for my present. If we get the opportunity to work together, I hope to help you along your own path to true peace.