About
Layer – upon layer – upon layer.
Imagine a set of Russian nesting dolls – those colorful dolls that open up to reveal a smaller doll inside. That smaller doll inside opens up to reveal an even smaller doll. And so on and so on and so on.
We are all like Russian nesting dolls. As we develop and mature throughout the course of our lives, we don’t get rid of younger versions of ourselves. Instead, we grow different shells around us.
We encase ourselves in an image we show the world, which often reflects the expectations people have of us at different points in our lives.
But YOU – are more than a polished outer shell.
You still have within you that rebellious teenager – searching for a place to belong. That scared child who needs reassurance that everything is going to be all right. Deep down inside, you still hold all those different versions of yourself.
Likewise, though we want just the polished outer version of ourselves to shine through, those younger versions often make themselves known.
Insecurity, anxiety, and hurt have deep roots.
The specific triggers for these feelings may be different throughout our lives, but these feelings reoccur time and time again.
Therapy will allow you to hold and gently examine your “Russian nesting doll.” We can discuss the polished outer shell that you try to show to the world and how it is often so different from how you feel on the inside.
Shining – on the outside AND from within.
Through therapy, you can develop insight into what makes up the internal chaos you’re experiencing.
Together, we’ll carefully “open the doll” and look at the different parts of yourself – all the different layers that make up who you are. We can explore the source of unhelpful thinking patterns and hard feelings.
Therapy can also help you develop a “toolkit” for managing internal chaos. We can explore different strategies that can help you change distressing thought patterns and cope with difficult emotions in healthy and productive ways.
These fresh ways of thinking and acting may not feel natural at first, but through practice and consistency, they can lead you to a new way of living.
Our goal in therapy is for you to know yourself truly and what you need in life – to enable yourself to cherish your own “Russian nesting doll” and all the unique parts that make you who you are – to become an expert on YOU.
About Me
If you haven’t already guessed, I love metaphors and the stories that make up the world. That’s one of the many reasons I became a therapist – I love learning about other people’s stories and helping them craft the rest of their story.
From a young age, I witnessed how mental health issues can derail important plans and goals and prevent people from living truly fulfilling lives. I also saw how mental health services could empower people to change their lives for the better.
By high school, I was hooked. I used to steal my older sister’s psychology textbook and occasionally spend my lunch period in the library with a stack of mental health books.
I graduated from Georgia State University with a B.S in Psychology and a B.S. in Biological Science. I completed my academic career by receiving a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Mercer University. Now, I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).
I’m also a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and have spent several years working in eating disorder treatment facilities, treating clients in intensive levels of care. I have training in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Internal Family Systems (IFS, Level 1 Trained). I am a member of the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (IAEDP).
I take pride in my Filipino-American identity. I strive to create an environment where clients feel comfortable examining their own cultural/racial identities, as well as the effects of privilege and racial trauma.
In my free time, I love to curl up with a book in one hand and a cup of tea in the other. I exercise my creativity by writing and making art. Nature is healing for me, so I try to make time to go on walks or explore different hiking trails. I enjoy stargazing on clear nights.