I am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) from New Orleans, Louisiana. My expertise is in treating trauma-related disorders. I began my social work career as a housing case manager for fellow New Orleanians displaced by Hurricane Katrina, then worked as a domestic violence victim advocate through the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s office. I also provided in-home mental health rehabilitation services and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy throughout the greater New Orleans area for several years. Now I practice online therapy full-time from my home, serving adults across the country. My passion is helping others overcome adversity through authentic self-expression and safe, meaningful connection. I look at problems through an intersectional feminist framework and use cognitive behavioral interventions that help my clients manage overwhelming emotions, change self-destructive habits, improve personal relationships, and feel more in control of their lives. Cognitive behavioral therapy is considered the gold standard for treating anxiety and depression. It involves a lot of writing out our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors so that we can notice patterns and find alternative choices. This is why weekly Live Chat sessions, along with sending messages and completing worksheets in between sessions, are a perfect modality for this treatment approach. While the therapeutic relationship is a professional one, it’s important that you experience me as a real person with genuine interest and care for you, so I’ll share a bit about myself here. I identify as a bisexual cis woman, and an advocate for social justice. I am located in New Orleans, Louisiana where I have lived most of my life. I have a BA in sociology and women’s studies from Loyola University and a master’s in social work from Tulane University. I took a 3-year hiatus from social work to move to New York City, where I worked as a ballerina, yoga instructor, and Broadway theatre bartender. I started my private practice back in New Orleans when COVID hit. I share my home with my 3 pets: a goldador named Bella, a chihuahua-mix named Rex, and red-tail boa named Kaa. I like to take road trips, and most of my vacations are spent in a campground or at a music festival. I also perform with local community theaters and dance companies. Though most of the people I’ve treated have experienced trauma, it’s not what brings most people into therapy. I start with the changes you’d like to see in your life right now. Having a supportive person you feel safe with and understood by is neither a luxury nor aid you have to qualify for; it’s what all humans need to thrive. I will build a brave space with you, where you can explore how your past experiences have shaped patterns of thoughts and behaviors. You will clarify your values and learn to live them authentically in the present. Oftentimes this process involves uncovering and processing past trauma. I have found trauma is not something you get over, but something you move through. As a trauma survivor myself, I’ve experienced the transformative power of therapy from the client side, too. I know how much courage it takes to open up to someone new, and let them see who you are and who you want to become. I would be honored to step into your world and move through it with you.