Clinical Bio  

Hi, I’m Rachel (she/her). I’m a queer trauma survivor who specializes in counseling LGBTQIA+ clients with dissociative and trauma disorders. Most of my clients are working to manage internalized prejudice, un-affirming family dynamics and environments, chronic/complex PTSD, Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder, and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).  I obtained my masters of science in Counseling degree in 2022 from Southern Methodist University, with a focus in LGBTQIA+ Affirming Therapy and Clinical Mental Health. I was awarded the Outstanding Student in Psychology Award in 2019 from Southwestern University, and the Texas Counseling Association’s Professional Writing Award in 2025 for my article “A Therapist’s Understanding of Asexuality”. I have previous clinical experience in various settings including inpatient psychiatric hospitals, partial hospitalization programs for teens, and intensive outpatient programs for clients with PTSD and dissociative disorders. I also have extensive experience providing continuing education and specialized consultation for fellow therapists regarding my specialty areas of dissociative disorders, asexual & aromantic clients, and transgender clients.  

What I Really Want You to Know  

I know first-hand how hard it is to find a therapist you feel safe to open up to. There’s often not a therapist who checks all the boxes you need for being queer-affirming, experienced in dissociation, takes insurance, etc.. I’m passionate about checking those specific boxes, because I’ve had clients in this intersection seeking help but end up having traumatizing therapy experiences, or therapy that doesn’t work well that only perpetuates the negative belief of “I’m broken”. I don’t believe anyone is broken, and it’s my goal to help you believe that too. My way of doing therapy focuses on chronic trauma, lack of safety, and dissociation which is different from most therapeutic approaches. We will focus on small steps to help you feel safe and hopeful, even if just a little bit, before diving into any difficult past experiences. We don’t need to talk about every single trauma you’ve been through immediately. If it comes up, it comes up, but I’m more focused on helping improve your day-to-day life and reduce your suffering. I won’t tell you what to do, but I’ll give you options to explore together, and empower you to make your own decisions. My clients often feel out of control of their lives, so it’s my goal to aid you in gaining control by making decisions in a supportive space where the only “right” choice is the choice that’s right for you.   

How I Weave Trauma Model Therapy Into My Practice

I first learned about Trauma Model Therapy almost immediately out of graduate school when I accepted a part-time position as a group therapist at Dr. Colin Ross’s Trauma Recovery Institute, a past program that focused only helping exclusively clients with C-PTSD and DID. While there, I saw Trauma Model Therapy directly helping clients with PTSD and DID change unhealthy patterns, develop hope, and better their quality of life. Whereas previously in graduate school I was taught that Dissociative Disorders were extremely rare and virtually untreatable, at TRI when using Trauma Model Therapy I learned just how wrong that mindset was. As a trauma survivor who deals with PTSD myself, I appreciate what TMT provides from both the client and clinician perspectives. On the surface level, it addresses the symptoms to find everyday relief, and on the deeper level it explains and challenges the trauma-related thought patterns that are difficult to change. As a queer person, I appreciate the core features of empathy, compassion, and validation that provide the foundation for Trauma Model Therapy. I consider it a privilege to use TMT with clients and witness their remarkable improvement.