Who Are We?

I wear many different “hats” at CBR, but my main one is overseeing the navigation of everything. You can catch me almost everywhere.

I have been a therapist for almost a decade. I grew up in these mountains, and found myself in them too. I strongly identify in the autism, queer, and chronic illness communities. I have my own private therapy practice called Spectrum Squared (spectrum-squared.com) that I “infodump” and research about constantly. I believe that the world wasn’t created for folks like me, so I found others and created a space that felt safe and healing. I am not everyone’s “cup of tea”, and I am finally okay with that.

In my spare time you can catch me collecting tiny objects, going to Sylva Belles Drag Shows, reading queer sci fi novels, and taking naps with my Saint Bernard named Walt.

May we all have a space to be vulnerable, seen, heard, and affirmed.

Brit is a Registered Expressive Arts Therapist (REAT), Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC), community care worker, and parent of two kiddos. Brit has over 8 years of experience supporting children, teens, and adults through expressive arts therapy and mental health counseling. Brit is excited to join CBR to further expand access to clinical therapy services for marginalized individuals and families within the WNC community.

I am a recent graduate of WCU's Integrated Health Sciences program with a concentration in Health and Wellness. My goal is to move onto a Masters in Public Health, as it is my wholehearted belief that a person's health and strength is a direct result of the health of their community. Every person deserves a safe place to live, work, learn, and play, and I have found such a space at Cornbread and Roses. By working as the new Food Pantry Director, I am super excited to uphold the belief that "all are deserving of bread, but roses too"!

Outside of work, I love to read, hang out with my cats (Katy Perry and Tom Petty), crochet, go hiking or tubing, watch trashy reality TV, and chat with my friends. I live with my partner in Cullowhee and other activities we love doing together include mushroom hunting, playing games, and bug taxidermy!

It is my belief that everybody is inherently worthy of feeling seen, listened to, and understood – especially LGBTQ+ youth, and especially right now. I recently graduated from the Master of Social Work program at Western Carolina University, where I carved a path for myself specializing in offering therapeutic mental health support to LGBTQ+ identified, as well as neurodivergent, children and adolescents. As a queer-identified person who was born and raised in the rural south, I have a personal understanding of many of the challenges and barriers faced by queer, transgender, and gender expansive individuals in WNC. I am also aware of the resiliency that exists within the LGBTQ+ community.

I offer a safe, affirming space to explore aspects of identity, navigate life transitions, and address struggles with mental and behavioral health through a strengths-based and person-centered lens. My work is rooted in an anti-racist, intersectional framework. However, I am here to get it right, not to be right. I recognize that all of my clients are the experts of their own experiences.

While I utilize techniques from practices such as DBT, polyvagal theory, trauma-informed care, and art & play therapy, I know that every person has a unique and complex set of needs. Those unique needs will always be prioritized over any one approach. Most importantly, I strive to create a space where clients can feel safe to show up with authenticity and vulnerability. I believe deeply in the healing power of creativity & play, so I also offer options like puzzles, art supplies, coloring books, and games during sessions for anyone who may struggle with or prefer an alternative to just talking.

In my spare time, you can probably find me worldbuilding for the fantasy novel I hope to write, spending time outdoors with my pup, or making my wife watch all my favorite animes.

I am a recent Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) graduate with a passion for social justice and community well-being. As a queer person, I am especially passionate about social justice issues related to the queer community. My time at Cornbread & Roses started first as a volunteer in the pantry, then as an intern over the spring semester. This summer I will stay on to finish up my work on the Third Wave Grant Fund related to the impact of Senate Bill 49, Parents’ Bill of Rights, in Jackson, Haywood, Macon, and Swain County schools. I'm researching, analyzing, and advocating for educational policies that foster inclusive and equitable learning environments.

Come August I’ll start my year long clinical internship as a therapist serving those who are willing to place themselves in my well supervised, and learning hands. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to learn how to be a good therapist in a space that will foster my growth in alignment with my values. A gem of a find in the mental health industrial complex. People first, always.

When I'm not working I love connecting with nature. You'll often find me hiking, lost in a good book, spending some time in the water, or roller skating. After 10 years of roller derby, skating is still a very special happy place for me.