This is my WHY. I have been through multiple traumas in my life. These traumas could have impacted a great deal of who I am and how I move through the world. In fact, there is a study called the ACES, Adverse Childhood Experiences Study. This study basically concludes that “adverse childhood experiences are major risk factors for the leading cause of illness, disability, and death (Prevent Child Abuse America).” After a major trauma when I was thirteen my Mom took me to a therapist. It did not go well. I felt so judged by her and "othered". It was if she was so focused on fixing the "broken" me she never took the time to learn who I was. The thing is at this point, I was so tired of being "othered". I was the only black girl in school, spoke “too white” when I was at a primarily black school, then in a therapist office where I was supposed to feel safe, I felt unsupported and once again "othered".
It was this experience that I instinctively knew that therapy was what I wanted to do. I wanted to help people not feel alone. I wanted a space to safely “feel the feels”. The things that I had been through were so heavy for me to carry around every day at a young age. This is still my goal. I support my clients I walk with them during difficult phases in their journey of life. I collaborate with my clients to assist them with goals. While I push myself to grow, learn more and balance it ALL I am also happy to say that I am the therapist I needed. I am far from perfect but I’m here, I care, and I am trained to help.