About missy
What if therapy was less about “fixing” and more about noticing and understanding? I have found both personally and professionally that so much healing comes from the power of validating experiences and providing safe spaces to acknowledge life’s wounds. By gaining perspective you can then be empowered to make changes rooted in self-worth and not out of lack and that’s where choosing clarity becomes a habit, and not a burden.
My career is rooted in working with all parts of the adoption constellation which often also overlaps a multitude of life experiences: grief & loss, identity, attachment & relationships, trauma, and a variety of neurocomplexities, to name a few. Any one of those elements can make life a challenge. When they compound and meet the day-to-day struggles of living in a capitalist society built upon oppression, it is no wonder there are so many experiencing uncharted levels of loneliness and isolation. Through my attachment-based, trauma-informed approach, we will look at the systems you exist within and evaluate what is and what isn’t within your realm of control. We don’t “should” all over ourselves as we work together, but get honest about your wants and desires to find pragmatic ways forward.
I’m a real human being with my own anxieties, challenges, and that lived experience informs me on shared struggle. That said, you are the expert on you and I am a curious clinician here to walk alongside you. I completed Yoga Teacher Training in 2016 with Yoga Alliance and Yoga Heights DC and use the mind-body connection as an informed tool in understanding our emotional and mental state. I attended Catholic University for my Master of Social work and have continued education and training with:
Adoption Competency with the NTI
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Sand Tray Therapy
Attachment, Regulation, and Competency (ARC)
EMDR with the Center of Excellence in EMDR
I’d love to help you find your path.
personal core values
I believe a healing journey isn’t about becoming someone new, but rediscovering who you’ve always been & embracing your authentic voice while letting go of other’s expectations. I also believe we don’t exist in silos and that collective healing & connection is essential to our communal wellbeing. We are inherently created with dignity and worth, and tapping into that truth grows our capacity for compassion for others & self. Through connection, emotional regulation, and a practice of gratitude we can live in a rooted foundation that makes lasting, positive impact for generations to come. You aren’t alone and don’t have to navigate this path without supports. While individual therapy is the work we’ll do together, I’d be remiss to not acknowledge the systemic challenges that create larger challenges for many populations including, but not limited to; LGBTQ+, Black, brown & indigenous individuals, those with visible + invisible disabilities. I don’t ignore or deny those experiences in our work together, but explore how one can choose clarity in light of these societal failures as an act of resistance. To choose to see the good, the healed, and the life giving. To look at the darkness, but not stare at it with a spirit of hope. It is hard, but always worthwhile.
therapy style
Direct, collaborative, curious, with a sense of humor
what’s on my bookshelf
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown
Set Boundaries & Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab
Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten
My self care regime
Pilates, walking, speaking fluent Bravo, dog snuggles, reading, connecting with friends, writing, volunteering, trying new cafe spots, getting outside even in the cold!
currently planning
My next vacation (always). On deck for 2025: Montreal & a week long adventure of hiking in the Dolomites (I’m scared).
currently supporting
A portion of proceeds from Choosing Clarity Therapy go towards the important work of these local and global organizations because individual mental health matters & collective action is also essential.
Ayuda, International Justice Mission & Loveland Foundation Therapy Fund
