Person-centered counseling is rooted in the idea of counseling the "whole self," this which would refer to the unique identity, context, and needs of a client.

While I believe that people are inherently good and can be successful in whatever they apply themselves to, I am mindful of how the circumstances of being human in an imperfect society—with imperfect systems and institutions—can limit the upward mobility of different people. 

Consequently, I see my role as a counseling/advising professional to...

1). build genuine connections with my students that allow for my having a better conceptualization of their lived experience

AND

2). ...to be genuine about the norms, challenges, and opportunities there are in college with recommendations for how to navigate said experiences in a way that honors the students' "whole self."  

Existential counseling largely refers to the utility of stress, and how stress for an individual can motivate one to seek experiences that bring about growth and learning. 

In the past, I have experienced pushback while proposing interventions for students in the form of:

"Maybe this would be better suited for the honors kids"

AND

"I don't think these kids are ready for that [kind of intervention]."

As an educator, I believe that students should be challenged to think critically, to try new things, and to consider multiple ways about solving lifes challenges. 

I see it my role as a counseling/advising professional to help students reconcile and adapt to challenges in school and beyond.

Not to eliminate all of the challenges before them. 

Responsibility and accountability are two values that guide my worldview.

Reality Therapy grounds itself in the importance of clients taking responsibility for themselves, and that feeling comfortable and in control of your environment can only happen when you decide to act on "XYZ." 

Frequently when I am working with students, I invite them to remember that with our working together that they are not passengers. 

Counseling to me is like playing copilot. I can model how someone might approach a storm, I can search the horizon with them for insight, but I cannot fly the plane for them. 

Fundamentally, I see it my role as a counseling/advising professional to motivate students and to help them realize that they can often trust themselves to be their greatest asset.