So how did I get into therapy? Well, I originally planned to do Civil Rights law—it makes sense given some of my interests—but as fate had it, I had my own dark period which led me to have to leave college during my (first) sophomore year at UNC. I had hit everything on the depression check list, including shutting out friends and family. But I had a longtime female friend who did not give up, and forced me to go eat a meal with her in public. That was the beginning of coming out of this difficult chapter of my life. She encouraged me to go see a therapist. I temporarily withdrew from school got therapy of my own, worked at a nonprofit where I learned about a program that addressed clinical and social justice work, and from there I knew my path. I excelled when I returned to school in better health and wrote my personal narrative for grad school at the UNC School of Social Work, wanting to show that I would pay back what was given to me. Oh yeah, and that girl who wouldn't give up on me is now my wife and the mother of my 2 kids. So, I guess you can say I believe in therapy because I am a certified witness! Did I mention I also am a believer of fighting stigma, hence my putting this in print for all including you to see? I choose not to live in the shadows or suffer in silence and I am here to provide you with a space to liberate yourself as well. There is no shame in where we stumble, and I know how to help you navigate through the confusion to find your way back to mental health.

In addition to being a passionate clinician, I am also a proud social justice warrior. I have done a significant amount of advocacy, community engagement, and public speaking in Charlotte as a result. I like to fight alongside and on behalf of those whose voices are stifled. I find this to be helpful in therapy as well, as there are voices that others may expect to be powerful who are often silenced, or at a minimum muffled by mental health challenges. I’m a proud native Charlottean who benefitted from diverse educational experiences that have given me exposure to and competence working and connecting with a wide variety of people. I am deeply rooted in and connected to this Charlotte community, and I am tireless in my work to advocate for the people of Charlotte and continue to break down barriers for people to access mental health services.