Emerging Adulthood

Being a teen or young adult is like standing at the crossroads of who you are and who you could be, navigating a terrain of self-discovery, independence, and new responsibilities. In some ways it’s an exhilarating experience to know you get to mold your life in whatever way you want. But in other ways, growing up can feel challenging, uncertain, and like a whole lot of pressure to define yourself for the rest of your life.

As an emerging adult, the sense of newfound freedom is both liberating and daunting. You might find yourself having to make major decisions that shape your path like career choices and keeping personal relationships, but without the safety net of parental or caregiver guidance. The world feels expansive, filled with possibilities, yet the weight of responsibility adds a layer of complexity to your everyday choices.

LGBTQ+ Affirmative Approach

At a time when the quest for self-identity is at the forefront of your experience, I can help you explore who you are, what you value, and where you fit into the social fabric of life from an LGBTQ-affirming perspective. The pressure to conform to societal expectations can be immense for teens and young adults, but even more so with the added complexity of wanting to stay true to your authentic self in a world that is cisheteronormative. My job is to help teach you the delicate dance of self-discovery, a journey that unfolds gradually, sometimes with surprises and revelations.

Together, we’ll explore things like building social connections that may take on a new significance during this phase. We’ll discuss how the dynamics of relationships evolve, and how you can build connections that are not just based on shared interests but on safety, shared values, and mutual growth.

Strengths-Based

Your future is an open book, and the choices you make now can feel monumental. Balancing the pursuit of your passions with the practicalities of life can be a delicate act. This can sometimes lead to pressure to have a clear, mapped-out plan when all you really want is to savor the present and embrace the spontaneity that life has to offer.

However, I know your superpower: you’re like a chameleon, adaptable, evolving, and ever-changing. We’ll capitalize on your strengths to help you build resilience, come up with strategies for getting through difficult times, and find strength in vulnerability.

Sex Education (for parents and teens/young adults)

Listen, parents, I get it. Talking about sex with your teens or young adults can be downright terrifying. You might be afraid to bring it up, they’re probably afraid to ask, but more than likely everybody is wondering how much is too much to share and how much is necessary to share. Chances are your teen/young adult didn’t get much sex education from their regular schooling, and if they did, it was likely the classic “you’ll get chlamydia and die” spiel (thank you, Coach Carr).

However, the research is resoundingly clear that abstinence-only sex education doesn’t work. Instead, it puts youth at higher risk for predatory sexual behaviors, unintended pregnancy, worse social relationships with peers, and other harmful effects on mental health that can last well into adulthood. Instead of perpetuating fear and shame around sex, let’s just talk about it!

I’m happy to provide sex-positive educational materials to parents and youth as part of the counseling process, especially for LGBTQ+ youth and their families. My goal is to make conversations about sex as normal as conversations about our overall health. When we can work together as families and communities to take the stigma out of sex and provide inclusive education about sexuality, we will all experience the benefits of better self-esteem, better relationships, and better mental health.

I primarily work with teens and young adults 15 years of age or older.