About Me
Core Values
In alignment with Axis Mundi's core values, I am committed to these foundational principles:
Compassionate Care
Clients deserve to receive respect, empathy, and compassion from a therapist. This requires a strong commitment to providing a safe, confidential, and caring space for clients to express their genuine thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment.
Social Justice
We live in a society which systemically marginalizes people on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, socio-economic status, age, appearance, ability, and many other factors. Even healing professions like psychotherapy are deeply rooted in worldviews which have done serious harm to disempowered people. Therapy that focuses on social justice reflects a commitment to supporting and empowering people who have been hurt by systemic injustice.
Theoretical Orientation
My style of psychotherapy is informed by a variety of theories and approaches, most notably:
Holistic Practices
Our hearts, minds, bodies, spirits, and environment are deeply connected. Through practices such as meditation, mindfulness, somatic exercises, connection with nature, dream work, and explorations of shadow, these parts of the self can be reintegrated. The goal is to help people learn how to feel more connected, whole, and complete in their daily living.
Existential Therapy
In the tradition of existential therapist Irvin Yalom, existential therapy suggests that the client alone is the expert of their own life. It is the therapist's privilege to be a fellow traveler and witness on the road of their personal journey through major life experiences such as the search for meaning, coping with aloneness and death, and accepting freedom and responsibility.
Narrative Therapy
We are the authors of our own lives, and the stories we tell ourselves have power. Our experience of life is often less about what is happening and more about how we interpret patterns and events. Narrative therapists help people re-write their self-stories to find their own inner truth, empowerment, and meaning.
Cultural Respect & Sensitivity
For any therapist, there are limits to understanding cultures and customs which differ from my own. One of the most effective ways of showing respect for clients' backgrounds and traditions is by being open to learning. With respect and sensitivity, therapists can help clients from other walks of life feel comfortable, understood, and accepted.
Inclusive Worldviews
There is no "one truth" for all people. We come together with a wide variety of perspectives shaped by our experiences. It is crucial to validate clients' unique views on culture, family, beliefs, and other valued aspects of living. The goal is to create a space that is inclusive of multiple perspectives.
Educational Background
In 2012, I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a concentration in Religious Studies from Columbia University in New York City. In 2019, I earned my Master of Arts degree in Human Behavior from National University. I earned my Master of Arts degree in Holistic Counseling Psychology from the John F. Kennedy School of Psychology at National University in 2022 and am currently pursuing licensure as a Marriage & Family Therapist.
