My breakthrough moment in understanding who I wanted to become, was when my teacher, Richard Mandlebaum, said:


"I am not a prescriber of herbs, I try to be a matchmaker—introducing people to plants they can develop their own relationships to."


I delight in being a connector. This was an itch I scratched for eight years as a harm reduction counselor, bridging resources to people surviving criminalization. After that I worked with organizations to help them build out their capacity to better serve queer and trans people. There is nothing more exciting to me than seeing someone find what unlocks new possibilities for them.


I'm also drawn to how this honors people's autonomy. When we meet, I will introduce you to information about how bodies tend to function and food, herbs, and life practices that can help your body come into balance. However, it is up to you to define what you want for yourself and what road you want to take to get there. I can be your cheerleader, your accountability buddy, and your reminder system, but I will always respect your ability to choose what works for you.


Finally, I believe in honoring plants as beings. We have co-evolved with them, and we have responsibility towards them. In my practice I try to honor the gifts they offer us by harvesting responsibly and teaching others to do the same. When our lives are made better by plants, we can reciprocate by treating them with respect and gratitude.