The “Who,” “What,” “Why”

You can call me LJ!

An open cadence is defined in music as a rhythm that does not force resolution, allowing space for continuation, return, and natural unfolding. It is void of the need to “fix.”

I’ve always been drawn to the spaces where emotion, creativity, and human connection meet.

Before becoming a therapist, I earned my MFA in Acting and Theater and worked as professional actor and musician. I developed a rich understanding of creative processes and the ways it can positively affect change in our inner and external worlds and relationships. Alongside this work, I became a traveling teaching artist and piano tuner with a goal: to bring instruments (and people) back into balance and inspire creative expression.

Wanting to integrate my love and experience in the arts with my passion for holistic mental health, I pursued my MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and am now a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate collaborating with and working under supervision of licensed clinicians. Open Cadence Therapy grew from this blend of worlds.

Whether I am working with kids, teens, adults, caregivers, or those hoping to become caregivers, the heart of my neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed work is connection and attunement.

Creating a safe, respectful space is central to my work. I am committed to affirming, inclusive, and culturally responsive care for LGBTQ+ clients and members of marginalized communities. I strive to create an environment that feels steady, respectful, and human for all: where humor is allowed, silence is honored, and complexity is welcome.

Every client’s experience is unique and therapy should honor that by meeting you where you are. I bring a range of tools, from traditional talk therapy to creative strategies informed by expressive arts, to help manage day-to-day life and navigate complex challenges.

My professional and lived experiences, including that of a foster/adoptive parent, neurodivergent adult, and practicing artist, help me bring empathy, insight, and creativity to our work together.

Open Cadence Therapy is an invitation: to slow down, listen and connect, so you can discover a rhythm that feels true to you.