“What if your anxiety is protecting you?” This was the question from my therapist that marked when everything began to change for me.

As a sophomore in college, I appeared to have everything in order—perfect grades, a strong resume, and close friendships. Yet beneath the surface, I was struggling with overwhelming anxiety. It was a constant weight on my chest and a queasiness in my stomach that could manifest into more of a panic if given the right circumstances. My anxiety kept me turning down social plans, praying that I would fall asleep before 4AM, and labeling myself as “broken.”

I had been so frustrated at my anxiety. It seemed to steal my joy and keep me from being present. I felt isolated in my struggle, convinced that no one could truly understand what I was going through. I resigned myself to the belief that this was simply who I was, and that change was impossible. These feelings are what led me to seek therapy for the first time.

When my therapist introduced me to internal family systems (IFS) and explained to me that these parts of ourselves, often born from trauma, are trying to protect us, it clicked. What if my anxiety was not the evil monster I had made it out to be? What if it was just working in overdrive to protect me from failure, humiliation, and deeper shame? 

By extending compassion and gratitude to these parts of myself that I had previously viewed as “bad,” I noticed a significant shift. My anxiety began to subside, as I learned to trust myself. My anxious part learned that no longer was it the younger, helpless version of me; I had grown into an adult with resources and agency.

As I began to dive into Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR), I was able to reprocess some of the negative beliefs I had about myself. My belief of “I am emotionally too much,” changed to “I experience emotions deeply, and that is a beautiful thing that allows me to experience my humanity and connect with others in profound ways.” I gained confidence in myself and learned to trust myself in new ways. 

While experiencing my own transformation in counseling, I was also finding a love for connecting with others in a deep way. This passion led me to pursue a master’s degree in mental health counseling at the Seminary of the Southwest, following my bachelor’s degree in business from Oklahoma State University.

It was through learning about trauma and working with clients with trauma histories that I gained a strong interest in working with clients with complex trauma and shock trauma. Humans are so adaptive and can do incredible things to survive the situations they are in. However, often these coping mechanisms – dissociation, people pleasing, isolating–carry on into adulthood and affect their relationships and life. 

In my practice, I meet clients with curiosity, authenticity, and friendliness. 

Because trauma affects people’s brain, body, emotions, sense of identity, and relationships, I take a holistic and integrative approach when working with clients. I enjoy using Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) to support clients in reprocessing traumatic events and addressing stuck beliefs and emotions. Additionally I incorporate Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help clients give compassion to parts of themself that feel disconnected; the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) to help clients address the beliefs and patterns formed through trauma that are affecting them today; Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) to foster brain integration and healing through secure relationships; Polyvagal Theory to help clients reconnect with their bodies and restore balance to their autonomic nervous system; and Spirituality and Faith-based counseling if clients feel like that would be healing to them.

If you are feeling frustrated and stuck, let’s work together. A past of brokenness does not have to define your present and future. There is healing on the other side, and I would love to be on your team as we help you to access that. 

When I am not with clients, you can find me playing sand volleyball, practicing yoga, or trying to find the best queso in Austin. 

Rates

$150 per 50 minute session

Therapeutic approach

EMDR Therapy

Adjunct EMDR Therapy

IFS Parts Work

NARM-Informed

Somatic & Mindfulness Approaches

IPNB & Polyvagal Theory

Spirituality & Faith-Based Counseling

Depth & Insight Oriented

Availability

In-Person Sessions: Mondays & Thursdays 9am-5pm

Virtual Sessions: Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm

Education

MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | Seminary of the Southwest

BS in Marketing | Oklahoma State University