about HOPPER COUNSELING in atlanta, ga

I’ve always been curious about what makes us who we are. Human beings are fascinating to me. Growing up in a small Idaho town and looking at the world through fashion magazines, I was convinced I’d become a fashion designer. My parents couldn’t quite figure out where those fancy dreams came from. I mean, my town was all about Wranglers and cowboy boots. As an adult, with a love of travel, I wrote about cultures and the clothing people wore. Looking back, I realize fashion was my way of observing people and the places they called home. I still love noticing the personality of a city, the conversations happening around me, and the little things: how people dress, greet one another, linger over a meal, or stroll hand in hand. And I will always stop to say hello to a dog.

Over the years, I’ve come to believe that every person is shaped by experiences they didn’t choose. Family, culture, relationships, loss, joy, and the places we call home all become part of our story. They help make us who we are, but they don’t have to write the ending. This is what drew me to psychotherapy. I have the privilege of hearing people’s stories and witnessing lives change. It’s also taught me to be slow to judge and quick to wonder. Every person makes sense once we understand the story they’ve been living.

I’ve had thousands of conversations over the years with clients, family, friends, and people I’ve met through travel. Somehow, they’ve never become ordinary to me. Every conversation reminds me that each person has a story worth understanding, strengths they may not yet recognize, and the capacity to grow in meaningful ways. I like to think of that as becoming our favorite selves.

Looking back, it’s not surprising that I became a therapist. I believe deeply in the resilience of the human spirit and in every person's innate capacity to live a meaningful, fulfilling life. Influenced by both Western psychotherapy and the Eastern traditions I studied at the Tanman Ayurvedic Research Centre in India, I believe healing involves the whole person, honoring the connection between mind, body, emotion, and spirit.

If you’re still here, I should mention my credentials. Not because they’re the heart of our work together, but because they reflect years of study that allow me to offer thoughtful, ethical care. So here they are: I hold a Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling from Georgia State University, and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Clinical Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC), and National Board-Certified Counselor (NCC). My advanced training includes Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and certification in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) for trauma resolution.

The letters after my name represent years of learning, supervision, and experience. But the heart of therapy isn’t found in a diploma or a credential. It’s found in the work we do together.

People often ask if I love what I do. I usually tell them that, more than loving it, I find it deeply satisfying. More than anything, I find it humbling. To be trusted with the parts of someone’s story they’ve never said out loud is an honor I don’t take for granted.

The way forward is already within you.