Variant: adj. 
 "not agreeing or conforming; differing."

Unfortunately, my practice is full and I am unable to welcome new clients at this time.

The Variant Life

If you've found your way here, it’s probably because there’s something different about you. Maybe you're figuring out what sexuality, gender, and romantic life can look like, or exploring nonmonogamy, polyamory, or kink. Maybe you're a plural system. You might experience the world through a neurotype or spiritual lens that doesn’t match the people around you. Or maybe your life has been changed by trauma or other difficult life events. 

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You Want to Be Understood.

If you’re like others I've met, you're probably worried about people making judgments and assumptions about your identity, your lifestyle, or your choices.  You might feel worried, angry, ashamed, or alone. 

It might be really hard to trust people. ​This can make it harder to give therapy a shot--to risk opening up about struggles you're dealing with. 

Maybe you’re worried that a counselor would try to focus on changing things about you that are perfectly fine the way they are, or who might have prejudices toward your identity. 

Or maybe you're just sick of having to explain basic elements of your identity to every new therapist you meet with.
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You might wonder if a stranger, even a therapist, couldn’t ever really understand where you're coming from. Or you might be afraid that there actually is something wrong with you. You’re trying to find meaning in your life, and trying to figure out how to navigate a world that makes life harder for you just because of who you are. You might not know if you  can even trust the people who say they’re there to help.

I get it. It’s hard to know who really has your back. I’ve been through that too--trying to reconcile my own gender identity, sexual orientation, and difficult life events with a world that didn’t seem to get where I was coming from. It can be so isolating when you open up to people, only to realize that they don’t really accept you for who you are. Trying to find the right counselor when you're already struggling with so much can feel impossible.
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You’re in the right place.

There are as many different types of counseling as there are people who want their lives to change. So as your therapist, my work with you will be based on your specific situation and needs. Nobody knows what you need better than you do. My job is to get to know you and help you shape your life into what you want it to be.

Many of the people I work with are the ones who have never felt like they fit in with the expectations they were given from their communities or peers. They've realized they need to create their own identities for themselves, but they don’t always know where to start. They’re often worried that there won’t be a place for them in the world, but they know that they can’t turn back. 

But everyone needs some kind of connection. We want to know that there are other people who will understand us, who won’t blame our problems on our differences, but will take us for who we are: individuals, with unique stories to tell. And we want to believe that we can be happy, that we can live passionate, meaningful lives, and that we can be accepted for who we are.

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Counseling helps things get better.

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Counseling can help you heal wounds from the past and move toward a happier future. It’s a collaborative process that helps you overcome and transform your struggles in order to find stability, happiness, and meaning in life. There are many different types of counseling, and some people tend to benefit more from one type of counseling than another. I use evidence-based practices like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and EMDR to work directly with the issues you’re hoping to address. I also work with more exploratory, creative ways of healing sometimes, such as Mindfulness and body-based somatic practices, parts-work, and play therapy. It all depends on what you want, and what you’re looking for.

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But regardless of what approach we take, I help people who are struggling discover the best in themselves. We work together to explore and uncover the many strengths and challenges that make them who they are.  

Many people automatically avoid the dark places inside of us that make us feel sad, uncomfortable, angry, and alone.  But what many people don't realize is that these places are where our greatest strengths and resiliencies are hidden. My job is to go to those places with you, support you, believe in you, and help you find your way back out again stronger,  happier, and with a life that feels more complete.

So take a deep breath. Relax. You've made it this far. And that means that you’re taking steps toward finding happiness and peace in your life. So let's Get Started.

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Visit my Services page to learn more about how we can work together to create wellness and happiness in your life. You can also feel free to visit my Common Questions page for answers to some questions or concerns you may have.

To discover if Counseling is right for you, or to request more information about my qualifications, competencies, and services, please Contact me to set up a free consultation.