Relationships have always been challenging for me. A big part of this was my anxiety and awkwardness. Life doesn’t always go as predicted and this was certainly true for me. I married and divorced, leaving a very unhealthy situation and becoming a single mother with four young children. Three of my children would later receive Autism Spectrum Diagnoses. I went from being a stay-at-home mom to working two jobs barely getting by. These years were some of the most difficult in my life, but they were also the most amazing. I learned to speak up for myself and my children. I learned to stop being what everyone else wanted or expected and to be okay with being myself. I guess you could say, I finally learned to be comfortable in my own skin. I am still naturally a quiet person, but I also can be strong and roar if the situation calls for it. No one wants difficult times in life, but we all have them. This period, for me, took me to my knees, but I couldn’t let it keep me there. I had to learn to not only accept myself as I was but to like who I was. This was something I had never experienced before. A significant part of this was learning how I ended up there in the first place—nature vs. nurture. I realized that I have many of the same qualities as my children, which were a part of their ASD diagnosis. I also realize how many of my experiences as a child played a part in who I had been. Therapy was a big part of my healing. Now, as a therapist, I have a passion for supporting others who may find themselves in the difficult times of their life. Whether it’s navigating in a neurotypical world as someone who is neurodiverse, having anxiety, depression, experiencing domestic violence, relationships, or learning more about yourself. I would love to walk alongside you and offer support if you find yourself here.