Hi, I'm Rachel.  I was very happy as a young child, but later traumas made me into a dimmed and timid version of myself. I was perfectionistic and preoccupied with my performance, which led to a lot of anxiety. I ultimately lost the essence of who I was, and my fears prevented me from living up to my full potential. Bringing awareness to the impossible standards I set for myself was the first step in my personal counseling journey. In time, I learned to extend the same grace to myself that I was easily extending to others, to acknowledge my vulnerability, and to process and express my emotions. Growing in these ways has been a game changer in my story, and I now feel more freedom than fear in my vulnerability. My past struggles, along with my healing journey, have led to my interest in helping others who experience anxiety, depression, self-esteem and body-image issues, as well as relational conflict.

My approach to counseling is person-centered, with an emphasis on connection, empathy, and non-judgment. This approach allows my clients to gently increase self-awareness, to learn new skills, and to create the lives they desire. As your therapist, I will walk alongside you as you process difficult emotions, explore parts of yourself that you may have disowned or suppressed, and work to become more congruent in all aspects of your life. I value authenticity, integrity, and mutual trust, and I strive to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for clients from all stages of life and diverse backgrounds.

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I will be interning at Hazel House through December 2024, and I'd welcome a free, no-obligation phone call to see if we might be a good fit for one another. ​

I am a student intern working towards my Master’s degree at Lipscomb University in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, with a specialization in Play Therapy. I have professional membership in the American Counseling Association and I am currently being supervised by Lipscomb faculty and Dr. Lindsay Vaughn, Psy.D., HSP, CSP.