About Rachel
My Journey to Empowering Kids and Families
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My life's work began long before I knew it. At 18, my dad came out as a gay man, a pivotal moment that reshaped how I saw my family and the world. This experience set me on a path to understand what it means to live at the intersection of two worlds: the one you know and the one you are just beginning to understand.
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Years later, as a licensed therapist and gender diversity expert, my two worlds collided again when my own child came out as nonbinary. Despite having supported countless families in my practice, this deep personal experience forced me to confront my own biases and expectations, and it became my defining breakthrough.
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This journey taught me an invaluable lesson: parents don't just need clinical expertise; they need a compassionate guide who truly understands the emotional landscape of their unique journey. And kids need someone to listen. With a vow to ensure no family has to walk this path alone, I became a "bridge builder" between two worlds. My mission is to help you move from fear to empowerment, from confusion to a deep, confident understanding of your child and your own emotions.​
Professional Experience
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I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience helping children and families. My professional work is informed by my personal life, which allows me to offer a unique blend of clinical insight and lived experience. I’ve had the honor of guiding parents through my AFFIRM Program, helping them to become their child’s top ally and advocate.
I have also presented at major conferences, including the NASW MO Annual Conference and the Smith College School of Social Work's Annual Deepening Clinical Practice Conference. My upcoming book offers tools that any parent can use to raise a confident, authentic, and emotionally healthy kid. It is based on interviews with parents raising gender-diverse youth from across the country, along with my clinical and lived experience as a therapist and mom.
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