Growing up in poverty I didn’t have consistent adult guidance, so I learned by watching, adapting quickly and figuring things out for myself as I went.
These early experiences taught me how to read people and notice what goes unspoken. Learning to understand people by what they don’t say as much as by what they do, coupled with a curiosity about how a person becomes who they are is the foundation for everything I do now.
I’m Irédéoyá, and my path to therapy started when I became fascinated with Alex Cross – a character in a detective series by James Patterson who was both a homicide detective and a forensic psychologist. I devoured this book series and imagined myself following this exact path in life. Over time though, I realized the way I truly wanted to help people was by understanding their lives, not solving crimes. Counseling felt like the place where curiosity, empathy and meaning came together and I’ve never looked back.
Therapy with me feels like having a conversation with someone who’s been around for a long time.
I’m deeply interested in knowing where you come from, what you’ve survived and how your past continues to shape your present. I don’t rush the process of getting to know you but I don’t want to keep you stuck, dwelling in your past. I want to help you make sense of it so you can move forward with clarity into the future you desire.
I enjoy working with clients of all ages and backgrounds. I don’t limit my practice to specific diagnoses or populations because what matters most to me is the person sitting in front of me and the story they bring with them. Everyone has lived through something that shaped them and everyone deserves to be understood.
Therapy isn’t going to “fix” things instantly because real, meaningful change doesn’t work like that. Healing takes time, honesty and patience with yourself. Being vulnerable is powerful and beautiful, even when it feels scary or embarrassing.
Outside of work, what grounds me most is my family, especially my son. Being present with them reminds me why this work matters and keeps me connected to what’s real and meaningful.
If you’re hesitant about starting therapy, I want you to know that just showing up for yourself – even imperfectly, is already progress. I’m not here to solve your problems like an Alex Cross case. I’m here to understand your story.
