In a lot of ways, therapy is like one of those rock tumbler gadgets.
It can be hard and painful at first as all the jagged edges hit one another. But through patience and perseverance, those jagged edges smooth out. That’s when you can finally see the beauty in your emotions and you realize that you were a precious gem all along.
I’m Lexus, and even though I knew I wanted to be a therapist, I deliberately chose to get my undergraduate degree in sociology rather than psychology. That decision was rooted in my belief that many mental health struggles result from the social structures we live within, not from something innately broken inside us. Acknowledging the systems that shape our lived experiences is key to how I approach therapy. Our struggles don’t exist in a vacuum – they’re shaped by the world around us.
After graduating from NYU, I spent several years working as a consultant in the corporate world. During that time, I also completed a master’s level certificate program at Columbia University focused on maternal psychology. The Sexuality, Women & Gender in Psychology and Education certificate gave me a deep passion for working with parents, especially mothers. In today’s society, where intensive mothering is the norm and every woman is expected to be a supermom, superwife, or the ultimate girl boss, there’s very little time for a woman to simply sit with herself. Mothers bear the brunt of this expectation, being told they should give every iota of themselves away – serenely and gratefully, of course. That’s one of the reasons I’m so passionate about this work.
My therapy style is adaptable because I’ve learned from my own experiences in therapy that nothing is more frustrating than a rigid approach. I draw heavily from CBT and Internal Family Systems Therapy, tailoring my approach to what each person actually needs rather than forcing everyone into the same framework.
Therapy isn’t easy. It’s hard to sit with your feelings, and it’s even harder to do the active work – both inside and outside of sessions – required to make lasting change. My sessions aren’t just talking about your emotions. I want to help you to develop a toolkit to navigate a world that is often unfair and then learn how to use those tools when you need them most.
I specialize in maternal health, parenting, empty nesting, caregiving, and chronic illness. These areas all involve people who are expected to constantly give to others while rarely receiving the support they deserve. That’s the work I care about most.
If you’re hesitant about starting therapy, I want you to know that therapy can be a lot like dating in that the first therapist you meet is often not the right one. Do a few consultation calls, and don’t feel bad if you’re not vibing with someone. At the same time, understand that therapy can be really uncomfortable because growth is hard. It can be tempting to shy away from that discomfort, but true progress lies on the other side of it.
You’re already a precious gem. Sometimes you just need help smoothing out the edges.
