My Story: Sitting on the Other Side of the Therapy Chair
Therapy can feel intimidating. I know that firsthand.
I first sat in a therapist’s chair during my second year of college. At the time, I was working full-time, managing school, and dealing with the end of a relationship. I felt overwhelmed and unsure of how to move forward. My thoughts were loud, my anxiety was constant, and nothing felt clear.
Over time, that began to change. Through therapy, I started to understand myself in a way I hadn’t before. Things that once felt confusing started to make sense. I realized I had been moving through life without fully seeing what was driving my thoughts and emotions.
That experience shifted everything for me.
It showed me that relief is possible. That clarity is possible. That the way you feel right now doesn’t have to be permanent.
That experience is what led me into this field.
From Practice to Leadership
Over time, my work in the field expanded beyond direct practice.
Today, I am the Owner and Operator of Open-Minded Therapy, where I lead a team of clinicians and focus on how care is delivered across the practice. While I no longer provide direct therapy, my role is centered on creating an experience where people feel comfortable, respected, and supported from the very first interaction.
I think a lot about what it feels like to reach out for help, how easy it is to access care, and whether people feel understood once they get here. That perspective continues to shape how the practice operates and how services are designed.
I am also a Doctoral Candidate in Social Work, where my work focuses on improving how mental health and medical care connect in practical, real-world ways.
My Philosophy and Approach
Through my experience in both clinical practice and healthcare systems, I began to notice a consistent gap in care.
Mental health and physical health are often treated separately, even though they are deeply connected. Clients are often left to navigate systems on their own, which can feel overwhelming and, at times, disjointed.
Over time, it became clear that care was often fragmented across systems, leaving individuals to piece together support without clear guidance or coordination.
Because of this, I developed the Whole Person Psychotherapy and Wellness Model™.
This approach focuses on treating the full person — not just symptoms — by recognizing the connection between mental, emotional, and physical health. It also places a strong emphasis on coordination, which is often missing in traditional care models.
At Open-Minded Therapy, support extends beyond the therapy session. When appropriate, we assist clients in connecting with providers across different areas of care, including primary care, specialty services, and community-based resources. Our team helps guide clients through referrals, so they are not left navigating complex systems on their own.
We understand that navigating care can be overwhelming, and that experience can impact how someone is feeling, thinking, and showing up day to day. Our goal is to reduce that burden and provide support in a way that allows clients to focus on their well-being.
Why Our Approach Works
Open-Minded Therapy was built with intention.
Every part of the practice, including how clients are onboarded and how clinicians are supported, has been thoughtfully developed to create a consistent and reliable experience. The focus is not only on providing high-quality care, but also on making sure care is accessible and responsive to what people actually need.
This approach is informed by both clinical and systems-level experience. It reflects an understanding of how care is delivered and where gaps exist, with a focus on building structures that better support clients and clinicians. This perspective shapes how the practice operates and guides ongoing improvements in how care is provided.
As a doctoral candidate in social work, my work continues to focus on improving how mental health and medical care connect in practice. That perspective directly informs how this practice is designed and how services continue to evolve.
The goal is not just to provide therapy, but to create a practice where care feels clear and supported from beginning to end.
