Hi, I'm Maranda,

 

If you’re looking for a therapist, you’ve probably already spent some time scrolling through profiles wondering, “Okay, but how am I supposed to know if I’ll actually like this person?” Honestly, fair question. A therapist can have all the right credentials and still not be someone you want to spend an hour talking to every week. Choosing a therapist from a website is a little strange. You’re basically trying to decide whether you can trust someone based on a headshot and a few paragraphs about their therapeutic approach. So rather than giving you a perfectly polished therapist bio, I thought I’d just tell you a little about who I am and how I work.

 

I’m a clinical social worker (LCSW-S, supervisor status). I earned my Master’s in Social Work from the University of South Florida in 2015 and moved to Texas at the tail end of 2018. I’ve worked with people in a wide range of situations, including inpatient oncology, hospice, veterans and military personnel, and adults dealing with myriad issues including anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, chronic illness, stress, identity issues, self-esteem, and major life changes.

 

Basically, I’ve had the privilege of sitting with people during some of the hardest moments of their lives. I’ve learned that sometimes what someone needs is a deep conversation about the origins of their anxiety, and sometimes they need help figuring out how to get through the week without losing their mind. Both are valid therapy.

 

My approach is strengths-based, practical, and collaborative. I believe you are the expert on your own life, even if you currently feel like you have no idea what you’re doing. My job isn't to tell you who to be or hand you a list of things you need to do differently. We’ll figure out what is actually getting in your way, what you want your life to look like, and what might help you get there.

 

I’m a big believer in therapy that is useful outside of the therapy room. We may talk about patterns, trauma, relationships, identity, or the things you've been carrying around for years. We may also talk about what you're going to say to your boss tomorrow, how to set a boundary without immediately feeling like a terrible person, or why you keep making the same decision even though you already know how the story ends.

 

I bring curiosity, honesty, compassion, and humor into my work. I don't believe you have to spend an entire therapy session being serious and emotionally insightful for therapy to count. Sometimes we need to cry. Sometimes we need to laugh. Sometimes we need to sit with something uncomfortable. And sometimes we need to say, “Okay, that was a terrible idea. What can we do differently next time?”

 

I’m particularly interested in helping adults who feel stuck, overwhelmed, disconnected from themselves, or unsure what comes next. Life transitions can be especially difficult when the person you were, the person other people expect you to be, and the person you actually want to be aren't necessarily the same person. Figuring that out can take some work. It can also be really interesting.

 

I work with LGBTQIA+ clients and strive to provide an affirming space where people can show up as themselves. I believe in gender affirmation, body positivity, and creating a space where you don't have to shrink yourself, apologize for yourself, or pretend to be someone you're not in order to deserve respect.

 

My interest in mental health is personal as well as professional. Watching people I love struggle has shaped the kind of therapist I wanted to be. I wanted to create the kind of space where people can be honest about what is actually happening in their lives without worrying that they're going to be judged for it.

 

And outside of therapy, I’m a mom, a baker, a reader, a road-trip enthusiast, a diamond-painting nerd, and a musical person. I also live with two cats who have apparently decided that I belong to them. I’ve always said I’m not really an animal person, although they apparently disagree. They seem to find me, decide I’m theirs, and then refuse to reconsider. I’ve come to realize that I have cat energy myself: I enjoy affection on my terms and then would like everyone to leave me alone. Unfortunately, the cats have not agreed to this arrangement. I love them. I just maintain that this was not my idea.

 

If you're looking for a therapist who will listen, be honest with you, laugh with you, challenge you when necessary, and help you find practical ways to deal with the complicated messiness of being a human, we might be a good fit.

 

You don't have to have everything figured out before you start therapy. That's kind of the point.