“I am forever grateful for all of the people I have met in my life, as they have helped enrich and refine my professional and personal practice of mental health and wellness. Thank you!”

My mental health profession stems from all of my past experiences as an educator, community advocate, psychotherapist student, and as a person with intersectional identities. My journey as a lifelong learner began during my undergraduate years at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis/Saint Paul (Twin Cities) where I was exposed to a world of diverse peoples and ideas. It was here where I first started engaging in community activism work through education alongside my studies in biological sciences and philosophy. I worked as a teaching assistant at a local high school, health educator for a nonprofit, and later as a private tutor. These experiences solidified my conviction that education is an essential part of holistic well-being and beneficial to people of all racial/ethnic/national backgrounds, sexual and gender identities, socioeconomic statuses, and other demographics. 

Though the work was fulfilling, I was stuck in career limbo, not satisfied with the impacts I was making in others’ overall well-being. The intersection of community activism and education was still fundamental in my career development, but needed another dimension added to synthesize a more comprehensive approach to mental well-being. As my journey continued, my drive for professional growth brought me to Columbia University’s school of education, Teachers College, where I was introduced to its holistic approach to counseling psychology.

New York City is another world of diverse peoples and ideas. At Teachers College, I was exposed to various conceptualizations and practices of mental health, most notably influenced by person-centered therapy and humanistic psychological traditions. Columbia University was also the place where I expanded my methodical knowledge of community activism and education to integrate feminist, queer, and political theories, which I continued working on in conjunction with my psychological trainings. My time as a psychotherapist trainee, support group organizer, and community advocate in New York City helped refine my approach to mental health and wellness. After years of reflections and continuing education, my journey leads to this moment where I incorporate all that I have experienced to provide holistic mental health and wellness coaching services to help others achieve their fullest potential.