ABOUT ME

I grew up just outside of Columbus, OH as an only child in a stoic household. Slowly, I learned more and more how different I was than most of the people around me. I could never put my finger on why I felt this way, until I was almost 22. I started consciously allowing myself to explore my differences, and my perceptions changed dramatically.

I realized that I was transgender, and so much of the internal struggle I had experienced was a result of dysphoria around my gender. Less than 6 months after this realization, I started hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Two years later I had sexual reassignment surgery, and I am now five years on HRT. Throughout this process, I have interacted with many providers who were uncomfortable with my transness. I understand just how difficult it can be to start transitioning.

This dysphoria began when I hit puberty. I was deeply uncomfortable with the changes happening to my body, and did not have the language or understanding to be able to communicate it. As a result, I grew increasingly mentally ill.

For me, my mental health symptoms manifest most often as depression and anxiety. At age 18, I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). These disorders have impacted my life greatly, and as a child I did not have supportive adults to turn to about this distress. As my health worsened, I fell into a pattern of self-harm. It grew to the point that I was doing so everyday, and I would describe it as an addiction. After almost two years of this behavior, I attempted suicide. Today, I am four years sober from self-harm.

In recent times, I have been uncovering more trauma from my past. Two years ago, I was diagnosed with Complex-Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD). A combination of neurodivergence, childhood sexual assault (CSA), and my long repressed gender have all been sources of trauma. I have spent over a year in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR).

Social relationships have long been a source of stress for me. As someone who is autistic and a trans woman, there have always been qualities about me that are outside of what is deemed appropriate by mainstream society. However, my education as a social worker has taught me ways to justly relate to others. I continue to seek ways over better connecting with those around me.

Over time, I also came to understand that monogamy has never been something I’ve actively wanted. Instead, it felt like a burden to carry—a rulebook I didn’t consent to. I am a practicing relationship anarchist and enjoy discussing healthy ways to relate in all forms.

I have over ten years of personal experience in therapy and often I have felt my therapist simply did not understand my identities. In terms of education, I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with my Master of Social Work degree in 2022. I have experience as a case manager, a community specialist, and as a direct service provider. I have worked in the fields of HIV/AIDS, homelessness, queer issues, and disability.

I am also a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) in the state of Ohio. License information is available to the public at https://elicense.ohio.gov/oh_verifylicense. My license number is as follows: S.2411694.

Topics I feel competent in include queerness, gender, nonmonogamy, HIV and safer sex practices, autism and neurodivergence, chronic mental illness, conflict resolution, and restorative justice.