I think one of the biggest lessons I learned earlier on as a therapist is that experiencing doubt and uncertainty is completely normal. During my early years (school, internships, fellowship), I was always fascinated with the information I was learning, but I struggled a lot with imposter syndrome and, at times, felt quite isolated in that experience. It wasn’t until later on, when I became much more comfortable and experienced as a therapist, that I came to realize that imposter syndrome is very common and natural. I really wrestled with the idea that I doubted myself as a therapist. There were several times that I questioned if I even wanted to be a therapist. But it just took time and experience for me to find the right population, my niche, my strengths, and to gain the knowledge and experience I needed to feel truly confident in myself.

The last boss I had was really incredible, and reflected back to me many strengths that I wasn’t yet aware of within myself. She said something that will always stick with me – it was something along the lines of – “whatever you need to learn – the tools, skills, knowledge, etc will come. It just takes time. But what you have is something that I can’t teach you. And that’s who you are as a person. That is why you are good at what you do.”

That was probably the most helpful thing I could have heard at that time, and what so many other people may need to hear. It will all come with time (if you put in the efforts), and uncertainty is just part of the process. What you can control is who you are as a person, and how you show up when those obstacles come your way.

I am a psychotherapist and work primarily with high-functioning and high-achieving adults. Many of the clients I work with are navigating the complexities that come with being human, and struggle in areas such as anxiety, perfectionism, work stress, life transitions, or relationship issues. My approach is grounded in an existential and humanistic framework, which means I don’t pathologize or jump to diagnosing my clients, but rather try to understand how their life experiences have shaped them. I believe we all have our own unique set of gifts and innate strengths, and therapy is a space that promotes growth in discovering those strengths that lie within.

I love what I do and am so grateful to be able to work with such incredible clients.

I decided to become a therapist because of my own transformational experience in therapy, so I’ve experienced firsthand how powerful and life-changing therapy can be.

Like many of my clients, as a young adult, I seemingly had it all figured out (or at least that’s how it looked on the outside). But internally, I felt lost and was going through a type of existential dread I hadn’t experienced before. Therapy was a space where I was able to emotionally unpack everything that was weighing me down, sort through my thoughts and emotions, and figure out how to move forward from a place of empowerment.

It was through this process of self-discovery that I decided to become a therapist, and my personal experience that has led me to feel so passionate working with young professionals. I then went on to pursue my Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work (with a specialization in health & behavioral health) at the University of Houston.

Yes, absolutely! I am actually so grateful for the obstacles I had to overcome earlier on in my profession, because I now have a deeper understanding and greater empathy for others who are facing similar challenges. Uncertainty and doubt are challenging emotions to wrestle with when it comes to our career, but I now see uncertainty and discomfort as opportunity for growth. I can’t imagine doing anything else for my career path, and each step along the way has led me to where I am today. It’s been quite the journey, but I feel incredibly lucky to feel so passionate about what I do for a living.

If I hadn’t become a therapist, I definitely think I would want to do something else in the helping profession. I love connecting with others on a deep, meaningful level, and the fulfillment that comes with helping others is truly remarkable.

Authenticity. I believe people can really feel your authenticity, or lack of, and it is something that really creates trust and safety within relationships. When it comes to marketing, building a business, connecting with colleagues or clients, operating in your authenticity is essential. By being authentic, we attract what and who is truly meant for us. It definitely took time for me to find my own unique voice and style as a professional (and as a person), but by living in my truth, I’ve allowed myself to discover and work with my strengths, rather than molding to circumstances or people that were just not a good fit.
I also believe it’s been important for me to maintain curiosity and passion about my growth as a therapist and as a person. I am always craving new knowledge and insight about mental health, human psychology and behavior, communication, etc. If I ever think I have all the answers, then I know I am doing something wrong :).