I began my training in undergrad working for suicide prevention organizations and volunteering to work with queer youth. It was here I felt the impact of the lack of resources which have helped fuel my passion for work within my community. I obtained my master’s degree from the University of Dayton and upon becoming licensed began working in community levels of care and within school and hospital systems. I have spent the last several years of my career working in LGBTQ+ focused healthcare systems, becoming a supervising clinician, working in private practice settings, providing gender affirming care, and becoming licensed as an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist (CST). I have experience working with those who identify within the LGBTQ+ community, aiding in the exploration of one’s identity, “coming out” process, transitioning, and more. I also have experience in working with those in poly or non-traditional relationships as they consider and/or work to open their relationship. I believe in the experiences whom PLWH categories as AIDS Survivors Syndrome and I advocate for competent and informed treatment and resources for Long-Term Survivors. 

Coming from a small Appalachian town and a conservative family, I never had exposure to queer people or culture growing up.  I think if I had, it might have helped me understand why I felt different than the other kids. If I had been able to receive my ADHD diagnosis in childhood, I think that also would have helped explain a few things. I have always been a highly curious person, and so, with the support of friends and my own therapy, I have developed a strong sense of my neurodivergence and my queer identity. Along the way I have found amazing partnership and developed lifelong bonds with my partners, and so I added understanding polyamory, CNM relationships, and crafting relationship fit to my list of things I learned about.  I found that I was impassioned by working with other LGBTQ+ people and noticed that there was a lot of important issues and cultural nuance that went frequently unaddressed in my workplaces- and so I started working towards becoming a sex therapist to be able to bridge these gaps.  And now in becoming a sex therapist I have gotten to explore my community, myself, and my relationships in even more ways.  I am so excited to report that I am still learning about new things in the world and myself.  I think that is my favorite part of being a therapist, being able to sit in mutual curiosity and give people the opportunity to explore lifelong learning and feel more authentic. In my free time I enjoy video games, comics, spending time with my loved ones (cats, family, and my partners), researching, collecting, exploring new places, crafting, and finding new gluten-free places I can eat.