What Palo Alto University Gave Me

The diploma I will receive in a few days is a symbol of everything I have accomplished over the past three years. I will frame it and hang it in my office. But the guidance and sense of connection I found along the way cannot be framed. They are woven into who I am and who I am becoming. They are part of me.

What It Means to Be an LGBTQIA-Affirming Therapist

Calling myself an LGBTQIA-affirming therapist keeps me grounded. It reminds me why I chose this work in the first place. It helps me push back on any internalized shame I have carried and gives me purpose in creating space for others to do the same.

Trauma, Responsibility, and the Work of Showing Up

Domestic violence, for example, is not always overt. It can manifest in subtle yet damaging ways that erode a person’s sense of safety, agency, and worth. As we study these dynamics, I find myself reflecting on the broader societal context in which such violence persists.