Carl Rogers believed there were 3 necessary and sufficient conditions for therapy: empathy, unconditional positive regard, and authenticity. When these are present in the therapeutic relationship he found that the client could pursue actions that aligned with their “true self” rather than basing their actions on an idea of what they “should” be or do. Person-Centered therapy also highlights that therapy will likely be different for each person as they bring their unique needs and situations to therapy. This theory is the background of my approach in the therapy room.

What this looks like in therapy: I’ll likely share my impression of what you’ve been saying, highlighting emotions, experiences, and sometimes discrepancies in what you bring up.

One of the biggest predictors of therapeutic success, based on client report, is the comfort with the relationship and closeness they feel with the therapist, regardless of therapeutic approach. This is why I aim to be a therapist who can provide a secure attachment with clients. I attempt to track your experience of regulation/dysregulation in session and use it as a guide for our direction while also helping you regulate in moments of distress. Additionally, I may observe patterns I see in our relating and be curious about their purpose and your experience of them

What this looks like in therapy: I may be curious with you about our relational patterns and whether they exist in other relationships as well. With some clients, I may start session with a brief 5-10 minute guided meditation and will frequently check-in with how you’re doing during our discussions.

These three approaches all share some commonalities in their underlying assumptions (post-modern) though they have different priorities in their application. Some threads that run through them are that (1) the client is the expert of their experience, (2) all people are trying their best and deserve to be treated with dignity, (3) acknowledging and addressing power dynamics in relationships is crucial, often around identity and role, and (4) an understanding that sometimes broader systems are impacting our views of ourselves and those around us (for better or worse).

What this looks like in therapy: I’ll often be tentative about offering specific advice and will likely not tell you what to do. What I may see as a solution or direction for you is only developed from the small portion of your experience you can share with me, and I trust your knowledge to fit your experience. That said, I may offer suggestions or ideas but will always encourage you to find what “fits” for you.

Folx sometimes ask me what “sympoietic” means. The term comes from “sympoiesis” meaning “making with” or collective co-creation. It describes complex systems that grow and evolve through mutual interdependence rather than self-generation. From the ancient Greek words sym ("together") and poiesis ("creation").

A classic example of sympoiesis, and where the logo for Sympoietic Psychotherapy comes from, is described here in this Youtube video about the Hawaiian Bobtail Squid and it’s symbiotic relationship with bioluminescent bacteria.

What this looks like in therapy: We’re all living in a context of our biological, social, historical, and political context, and these systems influence our ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving. We’ll consider together ways your world has shaped you, continues to shape you, and where your choice is in it. Moreover, I recognize the large responsibility and simultaneously small role I may play in your life.

I originally attended University of Colorado - Boulder as an English major in pursuit of creative writing. I later switched to Evolutionary and Ecological Biology as I hoped to pursue my passion for science. I completed neither of these degrees and dropped out as I struggled with substance use and my own mental health challenges.

I began working as a restaurant & bar manager and found myself enjoying most the conversations I would have with others when they felt comfortable with me and would open up. This was often coupled with alcohol and I found that those discussion just wouldn’t stick (and they weren’t really meant to be therapeutic or change conversations).

I returned to school at MSU Denver for Psychology and completed my degree while continuing to work. I was supported at MSUD and encouraged to apply for graduate school.

I was accepted into a Counseling Psychology Ph.D. program at University of Northern Colorado and attended for 4 years. Here I began working with clients through practicums and found I enjoyed being a therapist. Unfortunately, I ran into my own challenges with systems, and decided to switch degrees to a Masters in Educational Psychology to lessen my time in school.

Upon graduation I had lost hope or become jaded about therapy and the world of psychology so I chose not to pursue a career with my degree (I also couldn’t do counseling with a M.Ed.) and drove for Uber. Again, I found myself enjoying most the conversation with passengers as they shared about their lives, struggles, and successes.

Ultimately the “call” back to school to pursue a Masters in Social Work so I could become a therapist was too strong and I completed my degree in 2025. I continued to work as a mental health professional for Boys & Girls Club and then completed an internship at Marie Droste Counseling Center where I saw clients both in an alternative high school and from the community.

Since graduating with my MSW I registered to become a Social Worker Candidate (SWC) and became a school-based therapist with Aurora Mental Health. In a full circle moment, I returned to Overland High School where I graduated from and met with students for therapy there. I enjoyed working with the youth there and was glad to offer services in a setting that reduced barriers to entry, and this is something I hope to continue to prioritize going forward.

Ultimately, the decision to pursue private practice comes from wanting to find a work-life balance that allows me to be a dad and partner around times that work better for me. It’s been a long journey, but as you can see, working with clients and doing therapy is something I hope to carry on for many years to come.