My Background
I’ve been a mental health professional for over a decade, with experience across a variety of roles and settings. I studied psychology at UT Austin and went on to receive my Master’s in Counseling from St. Edward’s University.
I have served as a crisis advocate for survivors of sexual assault in a domestic violence shelter, volunteered on the geriatric unit at Austin State Hospital, worked as a research assistant on psychology and social work projects at UT, and been a clinician in both community mental health and private practice settings.
During my first seven years as a licensed therapist, I worked at a group practice where I had the opportunity to do varied work. I worked with individuals, couples and groups, developed a specialty in couples work, helped facilitate couples therapy training, and led peer consultation groups. Being part of a collaborative community allowed me to learn from other therapists, receive ongoing mentorship, and build a strong foundation of clinical skill and relational depth that continues to shape how I practice today.
G&G Counseling is the result of a long process of discovery about who I am, what I value, what kind of work is most aligned with the gifts I have to offer.
The spirit of exploration that I bring to my work has been a part of my personal story as well.
I’m a native Texan who grew up in Dallas before my family moved to London when I was 14. Between then and my early twenties I moved several more times, transferred colleges halfway through undergrad, and even made it as far as attending the welcome orientation for one graduate program before realizing it wasn’t the right fit for me.
Therapy was a steady presence through all of this. It was a place where I could integrate everything I was learning about myself as I moved between cultures, cities, relationships, schools, and identity crises. With space and support, experiences that had me feeling fragmented and disoriented eventually led to increased clarity and brought me closer to a life built on self-understanding.
This is what I’m passionate about offering others. My work is about providing a space where people can untangle their experiences with support in order to build healthier more authentic lives.
Whether working individually or as a couple, my goal is to help people feel more at home in their lives and relationships.
My Approach
My way of working is grounded in clinical training and shaped by a relational, experiential approach. I meet clients where they are on any given day and invite them to tune into their experience in the moment. As we explore the themes they want to work on in therapy, I help them slow down and notice the sensations, images, emotions and automatic patterns that surface. These responses offer valuable insight into how we’ve learned to self-protect, connect, and navigate the world.
My work is influenced by attachment theory, interpersonal neurobiology, Internal Family Systems, somatic psychology, and nonviolent communication. In session, I might use mindfulness, guided imagery, or gentle body-based awareness to help you track your internal state.
Alongside exploring people’s internal experience, I always consider the systems, relationship dynamics, and environments they’ve been a part of. All of these factors shape our mental and emotional health and are taken into account when I recommend a support plan.
My approach tends to resonate with clients who appreciate a combination of clinical theory and creativity, see benefit in an integrative framework, and want to feel more connected to themselves.
If you are open to being guided into your emotional world, connecting with the wisdom of your body, and building new connections in yourself or your relationship, I look forward to working with you.