About me
Who I work with
Adolescents (14-17)
Adults (18+)
Where I work
Individual sessions via telehealth
Insurance & billing
Aetna (mental health, PA)
Highmark / BCBS (mental health, PA)
United Healthcare / Optum (mental health, PA)
Self-Pay $150 (sliding scale available)
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*Note: If you are intending to use insurance, I will need to use diagnostic codes due to reimbursement requirements.
Therapeutic modalities
Gender Affirming Voicework (LMT-GAV)
Resource-Oriented Music Therapy
Internal Family Systems (Level I trained)
Attachment-Based
Liberation Psychology
Anti-Oppressive Practice
Trauma-Informed
Somatic Approaches
Mindfulness-Based
Relational Therapy
Humanistic Therapy
Feminist Therapy
Culturally Sustaining
Narrative Therapy
Psychodynamic
Health at Every Size
Estill Voice Training (Levels I & II trained)
Somatic Voicework (Levels I, II & III trained)
Some words to describe how I work
Holistic
I'm a music therapist, licensed professional counselor, (voice) teacher, and singer/songwriter. As a therapist, I tend to work holistically, weaving together my knowledge about mental health, trauma, creativity, mindfulness, identity, voice, and embodiment. Folks who are open to a non-traditional path to healing, growth, and play will probably vibe with my approach. I've often found myself working with folks who are seeking both gender affirming voicework and mental health therapy work (although doing both is not a requirement).
Collaborative​
While I certainly bring my knowledge, resources, and lived experiences to my clinical practice to support individuals' therapeutic intentions, I work best with folks who are active participants in their therapy. Folks who tend to enjoy working with me are open to listening to their own inner wisdom (even as they're also often expanding what they know). They're also folks who are doing work outside of the therapy room. If you're looking for a therapist who is going to tell you what to do or "fix" you, that's okay ... however, we're probably not going to be the best fit.
In the moment curiosity
A typical session with me usually involves some flavor of the questions: "Can we slow down a moment? What are you noticing about that -- here and now?" I'm rooted in modalities that invite presence rather than analyzing or venting about something that has happened in the past. That doesn't mean that I'm not here to talk about the past -- in fact, tending to the past is often a huge component of healing. However, it does mean that I tend to invite attunement with what is happening here and now, in this moment, as we sit with the past or explore a new concept of the voice. If you're wanting to practice skills related to mindfulness and curiosity, let's do it!
Systems in systems in systems in systems ...
I'm rooted in liberation psychology and systems perspectives. I am aware that both our personal struggles and joys are wrapped up within the larger systems we exist within. This includes anything from our family systems and communities to the much larger oppressive systems -- for example, racism, sexism, cisheterosexism, bioessentialism, ableism, sizeism, healthism, the medical industrial complex, and the list sadly goes on. It also includes the systems that exist within us -- that is, the many, many parts that make up who we are as individuals and are informed by those external systems. For folks who desire to move in and out of doing internal and external systems work, we will likely be on the same wavelength.
Embodiment
Many folks coming to work with me are exploring aspect(s) of their embodiment, particularly about their gender -- for example, transition, voice, hormones, surgeries, relational challenges -- and how it plays out with the many other parts of their identity -- for example, race/ethnicity, sexuality, body size, madness, neurotype, disability, relational style, and so on. Embodiment also comes up related to trauma work, mindfulness, creativity, and play. I thoroughly enjoy being a witness to people becoming more and more alive within themselves through accessing embodiments that they've either never experienced before or haven't experienced in a really long time.
Voice
Relatedly, many people coming to work with me are exploring their voice in some capacity -- whether related to gender, trauma, embodiment, (or, as is often the case, some combination of these). Sometimes this is "voice" as a metaphor for psychological experience. Sometimes this is "voice" as an experience of behavioral habit. Often, it's some combination of these. It is an absolute privilege to witness people experimenting with one of the most vulnerable instruments (in my humble opinion).
Trauma and collective healing
Many folks coming to work with me have deep-seated trauma wounds, and these continue to play out within their present lives. In my experience, these wounds are held by some of the youngest parts of ourselves -- for example, our inner children ashamed of XYZ. These younger parts are protected by other parts of us who are terrified to re-experience those wounds -- for example, a part of us that may stay busy to avoid feelings or a part that's forever wishing for the emotional pain to stop. As we re-parent these parts and heal our wounds, we are transformed and thus can transform our communities. I am ever-grateful to be a witness to and participant of the courage, compassion, and curiosity that it takes to do this healing.
Creativity and play
Often times folks come to therapy because they're feeling stuck and are wanting some kind change. Getting out of this place requires some level of creativity. It requires some level of trying something new and experimenting. It requires some level of (re)learning how to play. We'll likely be a great fit if you're open to letting your inner children out to play (or you desire to explore what's getting in the way of doing so).
Cat children as participants
And in the spirit of play, I have two delightfully wild cat children (Tyler - tabby; Rocky - black cat) who make regular guest appearances in my sessions. I hope they bring you as much joy as they bring me with their quirky vibes.
