“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
Gandhi’s words have guided my entire counseling career, but they took on new meaning when I left nursing school three years in. I’d spent those years learning to heal bodies, but what stuck with me were the moments when patients would quietly share what was really breaking them. Not their physical pain, but the mental health struggles they were carrying. Those connections showed me I wanted to create change on a more personal and relational level than nursing allowed.
As a first-generation Guyanese American and one of the first in my family to earn a master’s degree, I grew up watching how cultural stigma keeps people from getting help. In my community, therapy was something you only did when you were “acting out of sorts or too emotional,” when the reality was that entire families were struggling with substance use and mental health challenges behind closed doors.
My own family’s history with these issues is what motivates me to challenge that misconception and show that therapy is a valuable tool for growth and healing.
After completing my masters, I now work with clients in mental health counseling, bringing both my nursing background and lived understanding to each session. I’ve learned that people need to be truly heard, not just diagnosed. So while I use evidence-based techniques that create real behavioral change, what matters most is that you feel understood in a way that maybe you never have before.
In session I focus on helping clients recognize their behavioral patterns and build mindfulness around the changes they want to make while also providing education about mental health and practical strategies you can use for anxiety, sadness, and other daily challenges.
Clients describe me as informative, helpful, and attentive to their care. They’ve highlighted my professionalism and competence, and this feedback reflects the rapport and trust we build together. Those nursing rotations taught me the importance of truly being seen and supported in a one-on-one setting, and I bring that understanding to every session.
My mornings start with morning pages and journaling, and I recharge through adult coloring, music, and reading. These activities help me stay grounded and practice the mindfulness I teach.
If you’re hesitant about therapy, I want you to know that you lead the journey. My role is to guide you in uncovering your own answers and insights by helping you recognize patterns, build awareness, and develop skills that actually stick.
