Hello! I’m Joshua. I’m an MFT student who’s passionate about healthy child development. Now living in Northern Colorado, I’m originally from New York but spent a lot of time in Washington state, where I engaged in non-profit work supporting survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

My developmental trajectory is different than most, I was unschooled until the age of thirteen and am a survivor of abuse and neglect. Beginning my educational journey with no social skills and a history of adverse childhood experiences, I often faced many challenges when socializing with my peers; not to mention my schooling. Luckily, I found a home in the classroom and became the first of my siblings to graduate high school. Four years later, I was then able to call myself a first-generation college graduate.

Now pursuing a graduate degree in Marital and Family Therapy, I am getting closer to achieving my career aspirations of helping children with backgrounds like mine. Even though I’m living a healthy life and am surrounded by family of choice, I still have symptoms of my atypical development and can understand those who haven’t been as fortunate.

Mental health also holds a special place in my heart. I’ve lost two siblings to mental illness (i.e. depression and schizophrenia) and have another that suffers from severe anxiety. My involvement in the field of mental health and supporting children through trauma was inspired by my family experiences, let alone my own journey of recovery.

Outside of studying and working as a therapy clinician, I enjoy spending time with my partner and making art. I also spend a lot of time being involved in my community, both professionally and as a supportive peer. My central goal in all areas of my life is to bring out the best in others, especially supporting those from marginalized and traumatic backgrounds.