Who We Are

How would your clients describe their experience with you?
When you begin a therapeutic journey with me, you are committing to working through a relationship. I view therapy as a collaboration, where your inner world is an invaluable, trustworthy resource in crafting your healing experience. We will develop rhythms that create safe space for you to explore your wounds with a empathetic and compassionate witness to your journey. We will laugh in the joy and hold honestly the discomfort that we may discover, claiming the hope of restoration.

What are the identities and roles that inform your perspective?
I identify as first part of the created world that holds both beauty and struggle. I identify as a husband and father, which are my two most treasured roles. I identify as a wounded healer, having traveled through my own darkness. I identify as a spiritually-oriented person, who has been shaped by my experiences within and pursuit of faith. I recognize that being a cisgender, white, heterosexual, able-bodied male holds privilege that others are not afforded. I seek to hold this privilege with humility and extend my privilege to the benefit of others.

What are the areas that you feel skilled and passionate about within the therapeutic space?
My therapy is experiential in nature, drawing from modalities that fall outside of traditional talk therapy and largely focus on healing from the impact of trauma. I deeply enjoy working with children and teens, fostering their growth and development, while inviting parents to explore new ways to connect with and guide their children. I am passionate about incorporating the whole person into the therapeutic process — mind, body and spirit.

I rely on Play Therapy (Client-Centered and Directive), EMDR, IFS (Internal Family Systems), Somatic Psychotherapy and Attachment-Based work to develop a healing path for each of my clients.

What are the things that you enjoy or do for fun?
I connect deeply with the restorative qualities of nature, and enjoy being outside whenever possible. I might engage nature carving trails on my mountain bike, hiking along mountainsides or simply taking walks in my community. You also may find a Lego Star Wars set or two constructed on my office bookshelf.

What is a favorite quote?
"When we become aware that we do not have to escape our pains, but that we can mobilize them into a common search for life, those very pains are transformed from expressions of despair into signs of hope." — Henri Nouwen

How would clients describe their therapeutic experience with you?
As many of my past clients could share, I am not someone who finds value in the power dynamics between client and clinician. I believe both myself as the clinician and you as the client need to feel safe and supported to vulnerably unpack the pandoras box that is your life. How do we get there you may ask? By taking a step back from what brings you to therapy and first sharing and exploring who you are. This comes from me opening up myself and allowing you to see I am not this person to just tell you where you went wrong, but rather someone who will use transparency, humor and cognitive reframing as a way of pushing through the discomfort and getting to a place of healing.

What are the identities and roles that inform your perspective?
The identities that influence my perspective are those of an only sister to four brothers, a daughter, wife and child from a multi-cultural and multi-religious household. Ever since I can remember I have been someone who explores facts and science, although an equally present part of who I am is someone of faith. I recognize the irony in this side of myself, loving both things that you can touch, hold and prove to be true, but also taking a leap of faith and trusting something good can come from absolutely nothing.

What are the areas that you feel skilled and passionate about within the therapeutic space?
My approach towards psychotherapy is formed from three lenses. The first is the client centered lens, which allows you to decide what thoughts, behaviors and experiences are brought to session. Then we move towards the evidence based lens, which allows science to help you understand why you feel how you feel and what you can do about it. Finally, the direct lens; I am here to guide you in finding better insight into who you are by confronting those parts of yourself you are hesitant to name, process and grow from. This combination of lenses shapes my ability to work with adolescents and young adults navigating depression, self esteem, life transitions and the impact of trauma on your self worth. I reference the following modalities as supports within session: CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), Psychodynamic Theory, Walk and Talk, Neurologically Informed Interventions.

Who are you outside of the office?
Outside of the office you can find me on the farm; cooking, reading, watching crime based shows, spending time with my family, and enjoying the simple pleasures in life.

What is your favorite quote:
"It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn’t use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like, 'What about lunch?' " - Winnie the Pooh

How would your clients describe their experience with you?
Therapy with me can be described as a collaborative partnership, where you are positioned behind the steering wheel as the expert witness of your personal experiences, while I am sitting directly alongside you. I work to facilitate the changes necessary for you to regain a sense of control over your inner experience - thoughts, feelings and behaviors - and the trust within you to reach your personal goals.

What are the identities and roles that inform your perspective?
In time, I have learned that intentionally showing up as my whole self within the therapeutic space, with a willingness to self-disclose when clinically appropriate, adds to the authenticity needed for an effective, therapeutic alliance. In that, my interconnected identities as an only-child, a black woman, first-gen grad, and wife all inform the way that I connect with my client’s stories.

What are the areas that you feel skilled and passionate about within the therapeutic space?
I have cultivated an electric approach that blends theories and techniques from CBT, ACT, Person-Centered therapy and Play Therapy into an integrated approach that works toward meeting the individualized needs of each client. While I value what formal diagnoses can offer a client, I am not diagnosis-led; I approach each client with the hope of improving their understanding of their current patterns and empowering them to consistently choose to act effectively in the presence of difficult mental and/or emotional events . I enjoy working with school-aged children, adolescents and young adults; helping them to increase self awareness, improve their concept of self, boost their ability to regulate their emotions, and to utilize effective tools and strategies to increase behaviors anchored in their values.

Tell us who you are outside of session?
Outside of therapy space, one can find me exploring the endless aisles of Target, enjoying yummy meals with my loved ones, or taking a refreshing walk outdoors (preferably near a body of water!). I also LOVE to sneak in a cruise vacation at least once a year!

What is your favorite quote?
"We wake up each day, with the tools that we currently have, to keep our minds and our bodies safe" - source unknown

How would clients describe their therapeutic experience with you?
Therapy with me is warm and organic. As a clinician, I encourage clients to direct our conversations and introduce the topics of our discussion as they see fit. So, I'm not asking clients to share anything they don't feel comfortable with.

What are the identities and roles that inform your perspective?
I identify as a cisgender, heterosexual Black male. I also consider myself a multipotentialite with various interests ranging from Math and Science to Studio Arts. Additionally, as a clinician, I can easily connect with clients who feel out of place due to my international background. Therefore, being an African American immigrant has informed a large part of my social identity.

What are the areas that you feel skilled and passionate about within the therapeutic space?
My experiences have stirred passions in the areas of parent-child conflict resolutions, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. I engage in self-disclosure, sharing my stories as appropriate to highlight the options in your life and motivate you to make the best decisions you can for yourself so you feel empowered. However, I have plenty of room to grow as a recently licensed therapist. As such, I'm making sure to learn and seek out supervision as much as possible to benefit clients to my utmost capability.

What do you do for fun?
In my free time, you can find me playing video games (I'm a PC gamer, but I do favor PlayStation over X-box. PS5!), visiting museums (I'm halfway done visiting all the museums in the DMV area), drawing/arts & crafts, indoor skydiving, and helicopter riding.

What is a favorite quote?
I really like Joseph Campbell's remark that what we're really seeking isn't "a meaning for life...but an experience of being alive..." I consider this profound because some clients may perceive counselors as people who've figured out life. Of course, the truth is that we're all figuring it out as we go, but at least I contribute by helping some folks navigate their path easier.