Liberatory Pathways

Why I Chose to Become a Therapist:

I like to say that I entered the field of social work before I knew what the field entailed. I have early memories of counseling peers on the playground and being curious about the root causes of conflict I’d witness around me. Reflecting on my own childhood traumas, I think about the ways in which my inner child felt isolated and was only able to write as a means to cope and release their feelings. In retrospect, it has become evident that the bricks were being laid on a path that led me to becoming a therapist.

When I entered college I had the vision of being a social sciences professor. I grew up with a love for reading and an evolving curiosity for how individuals and communities relate to themselves and each other. I sought to be in deep discussion and reflective listening with students and peers as we explored beliefs, thought patterns, and opportunities to shape new understandings of our world. During my time in undergrad I found myself taking my knowledge of social theory and history and using it to make sense of my lived experiences while drawing links to generational patterns within my family system. With this increased awareness I began developing language to better describe the barriers that were directly impacting my mental health and would come to find that others in my peer group were also grappling with the origin stories of their mental health challenges.

Throughout my adulthood I’d engage in various professional and community settings that sought to dream of new ways of understanding and envisioning healthier communities rooted in care. Being in these spaces allowed me to explore the ways in which cultural norms shape and work with or against our well-being. It is in these spaces that I witnessed and experienced how the wellness of our mind, body and spirit are interlinked. If culture says that who we are is not “right”, what impact does that have on our mind? If our mind is occupied with thoughts of not being “right”, what impact does that have on our bodies? If our body’s nervous system is dysregulated, how can we fully believe that we are worthy of a joyful, pleasurable and fulfilling life?

My path towards becoming a therapist became clearer in 2016, after I received my first training in Restorative Justice (RJ) Circle Keeping. This training led me to co-facilitate and participate in RJ circles surrounding sexual harms and interpersonal conflict within community systems. Throughout this process I worked to guide participants to give language to the harm, identify the source of the harm, and explore what they would need to feel restored. I was humbled to witness the impact of reflective storytelling and the liberated feelings participants would experience by their ability to share and process their inner world out loud.

Fast forward, I attended graduate school where I began my clinical training and received my Master’s degree in Social Work. During and after my time in graduate school I continued to provide mental health and program support to adults, adolescents and families whose wellness were interrupted by their challenges with grief, trauma, chronic stress, racial & gender identity acceptance, and anxiety. Over the years my passion as a therapist has expanded and I feel honored to be a part of the journey of those I encounter on this path.