I believe meaningful change begins when people feel understood rather than judged. My approach to counseling is compassionate, authentic, and collaborative, with a particular passion for working with individuals affected by addiction, substance use, recovery, relapse, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, and major life transitions.

Addiction and recovery are especially meaningful areas of my work because my understanding extends beyond education and clinical training. I bring lived experience with addiction and long-term recovery, which has given me a personal understanding of the challenges that can accompany substance use, getting sober, relapse, rebuilding trust, repairing relationships, and learning how to create a meaningful life in recovery. I understand that recovery is not always a straight line, and I want clients to have a place where they can be honest about where they are without feeling judged or defined by their past.

My therapeutic approach draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), person-centered therapy, and traditional talk therapy. I believe there is rarely one approach that works for everyone. Together, we can identify patterns in thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and relationships while developing practical strategies that support lasting change.

At Hope Embers, I also work within a broader perspective that recognizes how attachment, relationships, trauma, and the connection between the mind and body can influence the ways we cope and relate to others. Addiction often involves much more than simply stopping the use of a substance or behavior. Understanding what the addiction has been doing for someone—whether that involves managing pain, escaping emotions, finding connection, or coping with past experiences—can be an important part of creating sustainable recovery.

My goal is to help clients develop greater self-awareness while also giving them practical tools they can use outside of the therapy room. For someone navigating recovery, this may include identifying triggers, strengthening relapse-prevention skills, improving emotional regulation, establishing healthy boundaries, repairing relationships, and developing a stronger sense of identity and purpose.

I believe people are more than the worst chapter of their lives. Whether you are considering recovery for the first time, returning after a setback, maintaining long-term sobriety, or simply realizing that something in your life needs to change, counseling can provide a place to speak openly, understand yourself more deeply, and begin building a life that aligns with who you want to become.