Since I was 16 years old, I knew I wanted to work in mental health. I was in the crux of my adolescence, navigating hormonal changes, rapid thinking, impulsivity, meaningful peer relationships (and the losses of them), and all the while being told to figure out what I want from life. In conversations with myself, my mentors, and my peers, I recognized a force which I now call an “insatiable curiosity,” a feeling deep in my core that prompts me to explore, seek out knowledge, and connect with others. It is something that drives me to this very day.

While navigating the maze of that inner world, I noticed that my friends would often come to me with their emotions, and I found a profound sense of purpose in sitting with them. During high school, a friend once came to me after being exposed to traumatic media through his classes. He broke down in tears, and I did not know what to do except offer him a simple hug and reassurance of his feelings.

This continued throughout my college years: A friend was heartbroken when her girlfriend left her for a man, and she found comfort in our shared space. She had asked me to hold her hand as she broke down crying in her car. Another close friend would disclose details of his life to me that “I have never shared with anyone before,” and would remark “I have no clue why I am telling you all of this” This became a common trend in my life - people felt something with me that helped them feel safe, warm, and understood.

I have found these connections, among many others, to be incredibly impactful to my development as an individual person, which informs my practice as a psychotherapist. These connections, as well as the “insatiable curiosity” I described earlier, are my main driving force. It helps me to dive deeper into people’s stories and worlds, seeking to not only uncover answers to problems, but to fully experience these phenomena, and help individuals find meaning in their worldviews and experiences, to feel them in a safe and compassionate place, free of judgment.

Among these ideas and experiences, I am also informed by my personal relationships, fatherhood (be it my son or my dogs), philosophy, fine art, nature, and music. In my own personal time, I work to be intentional in exploring meaningfulness in simplicity. This includes writing about my experiences in and outside of therapy, writing (or at least making an attempt to write) music, and reading books that explore human connections to each other, the world, and ourselves.