About Me

Plenty of signs, none of them obvious

I earned good grades, stayed out of trouble, and loved learning. Cramming and intense bursts of effort covered for anything that didn't interest me, and nobody around me noticed a thing.

Looking back, the signs were there: few friends, constant daydreaming, homework started at the last possible minute, and a steady undercurrent of stress.

The strategies stopped working

In college, the strategies that had carried me through school stopped working. My grades plummeted, and no amount of “trying harder” helped. I was too ashamed to ask for help, and eventually I became depressed. Treating the depression helped somewhat, but not the underlying problem.

Near the end of my undergraduate program, a mentor validated my struggle and asked if I had been diagnosed with ADHD. I graduated with more relief than pride, and a lasting fascination with psychology.

Reaching out, finally

Through persistence, structure, and a more predictable routine, I made it into graduate school, where I faced many of the same challenges. This time, I reached out for help. A psychologist and a psychiatrist led me to an ADHD diagnosis and an effective treatment plan.

For the first time, I felt like I was living in a way that matched my abilities rather than constantly fighting against myself.

Therapy and medication changed my life. I still had to work hard, sometimes harder than other people, but I understood why and knew which strategies worked. I finished at the top of my master's class, then pursued a doctorate.

Why this work

My own experience with identity, self-doubt, and ADHD is what inspired my career. I know how tightly ADHD, anxiety, depression, and shame can intertwine, and how much it helps to finally understand what's happening.

I want to help you make sense of why you feel stuck and find practical ways forward. Sometimes that means challenging unhelpful patterns. Other times it means accepting parts of ourselves that aren't going to change.