closed for scheduling ~

closed for scheduling ~

About Me.

I love what I do to help my clients because I've been there. I'm queer, kinky, and have 20 years of experience in ethically non-monogamous relationships. My life has been a zig-zaggy line with a whole lot of challenges in my path. From figuring out myself to my relationships with others, I've gone through it. Because I couldn't find therapists who understood what I was going through, I put in a lot of work and research to get educated on how to help myself. I became a therapist and eventually founded Rebel Heart Therapy because I didn't want anyone else to experience the bad therapy I had. I want to share with you what I've learned.

I love working with other queers and weirdos and misfits and outsiders because we are a creative, interesting, sensitive bunch of people. We are also repeatedly hurt by a world that wants us to conform. Standing out in the face of that is hard. It can come with a lot of shame or feeling like an outsider, no matter who you're with. Maybe you don't know who you are, or you do, but you don't like it. Maybe you've got yourself pretty figured out, but life still isn't feeling as good as you think it could. Our paths may not look the same, but I know you can be yourself and be happy, and you don't have to do it alone. 

I'm not going to make you talk for half the session and then ask, "How does that make you feel?" (Boring and not helpful!) Let's get in there and explore who you are and what you want out of life, and then we'll develop your path to get there. Every part of you is welcome here. Trying to figure out how to talk to your partner about your job, your kinks, that thing you did at the burn? Struggling with a metamour? Freaked out at the prospect of coming out to your spouse? Let's talk about it. 

Some fun facts about me: I'm really into He-Man, queer history, horseback riding, hanging out with my wife, and watching our daughters play roller derby. I've had the opportunity to live in many areas of the country, including New Jersey, Georgia, Utah, Vermont, California, Washington, and Oregon. I've been happily settled in the PNW since 2011, but at times I do miss a good Georgia thunderstorm.

OK, here comes the academic and professional development stuff if you want to nerd out with me…

My work in the mental health field began at one of the largest LGBT organizations globally, the Los Angeles LGBT Center. I was chosen as one of only ten new interns to their nationally acclaimed LGBT-specific psychotherapy internship program and received excellent training in a range of LGBT mental health issues, including intimate partner violence, substance abuse, and crisis intervention. 

I've volunteered on the Emergency Services Crisis Intervention Team at Burning Man since 2013.

In addition to supporting clients through my private practice, I had the pleasure and privilege of guiding the next generation of therapists into the field for several years as a clinical supervisor at Lewis & Clark Community Counseling Center. I now continue that mission at Rebel Heart. I'm an Approved Supervisor through the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.

I earned a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in LGBT Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles. I've received training in theories of psychology and counseling, human growth and development, law and ethics, couples counseling, family systems, treatment of children and adolescents, chemical dependency, human sexuality, human diversity, and affirmative treatment models for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender clients. 

I have a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Deaf Studies from California State University Northridge and an Associate's degree in Liberal Arts from the Community College of Vermont.

LICENSED MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST - OR T1128

APPROVED SUPERVISOR - AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS

MASTER OF ARTS IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, LGBT-AFFIRMATIVE PSYCHOLOGY

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY AND DEAF STUDIES