Why I do this work:

I know what it’s like to feel like you don’t fit the mold. Though I hold privilege as a white, cisgender, heterosexual man, I’ve never quite matched the “expected” version of masculinity. Growing up with a soft, gentle approach to life, I faced bullying and pressure to conform. Those experiences shaped me deeply and taught me the power of curiosity over judgment, compassion over critique, and slowing down instead of pushing through. They also showed me how meaningful it can be to finally find your voice, loosen people-pleasing patterns, and make sense of experiences that never had space to be fully felt.

Much of my work centers around sudden life changes and major transitions—moments when the ground shifts beneath you and the old ways of understanding yourself no longer quite fit. This can include grief and loss (including disenfranchised grief and pet loss), but it also includes career or identity transitions, a later-in-life neurodivergence diagnosis, relationship ruptures, neurodivergent burnout, or life events that force you to reorient who you are and how you move through the world. When transitions aren’t given space to be processed, they often show up as anxiety, depression, shame, physical symptoms, or a persistent feeling of being stuck. I believe healing begins when these experiences are contained, understood, and allowed to take on meaning.

I’m also deeply drawn to relational work. Many of the couples I work with come to therapy during a rupture or transition: infidelity, loss of trust, a new ADHD or autism diagnosis, parenting stress, or a point where the relationship no longer feels familiar. These moments can feel destabilizing and painful, but they can also become opportunities for clarity, repair, and deeper connection. I have a particular interest in working with couples navigating neurodivergence, where mismatched nervous systems, communication styles, or expectations can create cycles of misunderstanding despite strong intentions and care.

My journey to this work wasn’t linear. As an in-home caregiver for kids with disabilities, a paraeducator, and even a professional dog trainer, I learned how regulation, safety, and connection shape behavior, whether between humans or animals. (Yes, I’ll absolutely talk with you about the human-animal bond, especially when loss or transition involves a beloved pet.) Now, as a therapist, I “Believe,” à la Ted Lasso: I believe you’re doing the best you can. I believe change is possible. And I believe that even the most disruptive transitions can become sources of insight, resilience, and growth.

I completed my Master’s in Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy here in Portland, where I’ve worked with individuals, couples, and families.