Why I’m a therapist…

I love how hearing a person’s story invites compassion and connection in a way little other things can. Like many of you, I was not protected from traumatic events in my life. After years of muddling my way through and pushing the pain away, I discovered it’s not what happened, but how I choose to respond to it that invited growth and resiliency. It is one of my greatest joys to partner with people in their healing process.

A favorite story of mine is about a man whose son has died. He was thrown into the horror of grief, but through this process he became a new man; a man who used his renewed empathy and compassion for the greater good. He was revered for it and loved by all.

But then he said, “I would give it all up to have my son back. But I don’t get to choose. I would choose to have him every time. So instead, I choose to use this pain for good.”

Time and time again, I get to see this story play out in my office in hundreds of ways as we honor our pain in one hand and live in the moment we are given in the other.

In my spare time, I enjoy connecting with family and friends, staying active, going for long walks and finding the best chocolate chip cookie recipe. Researching the perfect vacation is probably a favorite hobby as well!