I came to social work after spending much of my childhood and adolescence navigating depression and anxiety within a high-control religious environment. I was raised in a belief system that emphasized fear, strict adherence to rules and the idea that worthiness depended on perfection and compliance. This contributed to significant isolation, self-doubt and a persistent sense of not being “good enough.”

In early adulthood, I began to recognize that I could no longer continue living within these constraints. I had been discouraged from pursuing my own goals, forming relationships outside the group and even questioning the beliefs I was raised with. With the support of a social worker, I began to unpack the impact of this upbringing and gradually reconstruct a sense of self beyond it.

This process of meaning-making, identity reconstruction and reclaiming autonomy continues to deeply inform my clinical work today. I take a stance of religious and spiritual neutrality in therapy, meaning I do not impose my own beliefs about religion, spirituality, or the absence of belief onto clients. My role is not to influence what you believe or do not believe, but to support you in exploring your own experiences with clarity, autonomy, and self-trust