about me
I grew up with the idea that mental health care should be as valued and accessible as physical health care. My mother is a therapist, so my teen angst landed me on the couch of a therapist or two before I left the nest!
I learned that there are many great therapists out there, but I was most helped most by the ones I could relate to; the ones who didn’t keep me from knowing that they had their own struggles and fears, the ones that didn't just nod empathetically at me... they actually helped me change my life!
I am a queer, cisgender, white woman. I live in Asheville, NC with my blended family, including my teen daughter, fiancee, and his kiddo. I love a dance party, an outrageous outfit, time with my family and long-term friends, and any excuse for a crafting project.
My pronouns are she/her.
MY PHILOSOPHY
I believe that appropriate disclosure and transparency can be helpful. I don’t pretend to not have opinions. You will not be talking to a brick wall.
I don’t believe in pathologizing people for doing what they feel is right for them. No matter how much you challenge the status quo, as long as it’s working for you, I will support you.
I believe in taking sides in couples work, when appropriate. I will gently call out bad relational behavior in service of better connection.
The things you learn in therapy should translate to your everyday life. Together, we’ll identify practical ways to take action on what you’ve learned.
I have a no-nonsense, pragmatic, super encouraging approach that works best with people who are ready for change.
TRAINING & EXPERIENCE
I began my career in the helping profession with a 200 hour Life Coaching certification through the Coaches Training Institute in 2010. I followed that up with a Masters of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Western Carolina University, graduating in 2015. From 2015-2019 I worked with adolescents and families in a community mental health setting. I have completed one year of additional training in sex therapy from a world-renowned program at the University of Michigan. I am currently undergoing training for certification in Relational Life Therapy.
The Name
“Rose and Thorn” was a game my family played around the dinner table when I was growing up. In it, each person takes a turn to share the best part of their day - their rose, and the worst part of their day - their thorn. This practice connected us after a long day with important conversations about things that really matter. Now that I have a daughter, she has introduced the family to the concept of the Bud - which is the thing they are looking forward to the most. We still play the game, but now the game is “Rose, Thorn, and Bud.”
Therapeutically, this name represents my commitment to creating a space for you to share your roses, thorns, and buds; a place where you can discuss all the meaningful things in your life. I’m a firm believer that when we have a place to be ourselves, change is guaranteed.
