My clients will often hear me say that "kind" and "nice" are not the same thing.

To me, nice is often deceptive. It tiptoes, it sugarcoats, and sometimes it downright lies. Its biggest concern is the avoidance of conflict or consequence.

Kindness, on the other hand, provides space for honesty. Kindness acknowledges unique needs of individual people and uses assertive (not aggressive or passive) communication.

Humor is a crucial part of therapy. It softens the hard, dark edges, it provides relief, it humanizes experiences that otherwise would be unbearable.

True humor is not to be confused with meanness; true humor notices ironies and surprises, but it does not intend to wound or hurt, and should never be weaponized.

One of the things that I find often gets in the way for many of my clients is the concept of good/bad, right/wrong. In assigning a morality to our choices, experiences, and behaviors, we're often over-simplifying things in a way that isn't actually helpful.

Instead, I will encourage you to see things as they are without judgement, and to see yourself with true, unadulterated compassion.

My goal is to foster an environment that is actively anti-racist, pro-sex, and queer affirming. 

I believe that:

• gender and sexuality are fluid and ever changing

• spirituality and faith are ab unique relationships that should never be forced to fit any box

• racism and xenophobia must be actively challenged

• the personal always has been and always will be political