Despite being born in dusty west Texas, I have always felt called to the ocean. I studied International Political Economy at the University of Puget Sound and began my career as a sailboat captain and SCUBA instructor upon graduation. This career allowed me to travel all over the world, engage with new ideas, and humbly learn about the power of connection. My experiences of humanness on and off the water empowered me to take a leap of faith and dive into the mental health field. I graduated from Texas Tech University with a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy, where my clinical focus included queer, trans, and poly affirming therapy and a specialization in working with sexual trauma. When I reflect on my life, I see moments of big joy, book-ended with moments of overwhelming grief. While personally unpacking the trauma of purity culture, sexual violence, my own identity, privilege, and my relationship with gender, I have additionally walked with my family through experiences of medical trauma, emotional abuse, incarceration, and addiction. These experiences undoubtedly color the lens through which I see the world and my approach to therapy.