Rachael Drago

I want you to know that therapy with me is a safe, welcoming space where you can bring your full self: the hard stuff, the messy stuff, and even laughter along the way. I value authenticity and connection, and I believe healing happens when you feel truly seen and heard. My background includes nearly 5 years working as an intensive community based, crisis therapist, supporting children, teens, adults and families through challenging times. I also draw from previous professional experiences as a legal advocate for survivors of domestic violence, a job coach for youth and as an adolescent counselor in a group home for adolescents. Additionally, I bring my own lived experience as an LGBTQ2S+ identifying individual.

In my free time I enjoy hiking, spending time with my wife and two cats, playing ice hockey, and watching tv shows.

My approach is humanistic, strengths based, and anti-oppressive. That means I see you as the expert of your own story, and I work to honor your unique identity, values and lived experiences. I believe therapy should be collaborative and affirming, a place where we can explore difficult emotions while also finding room for humor, hope, and growth. I strive to notice and name the systems that impact your wellbeing, while helping you build skills and strategies that feel authentic to you.

In our first session, you can expect a welcoming conversation focused on getting to know you - your goals, your strengths, and what brought you to therapy. We'll go at a pace that feels right for you, with no pressure to share more than you're ready for. I also want you to feel like you can get to know me. My priority is to create a safe, comfortable space where you can begin to feel supported, understood, and open to the process. I may use my humor to lighten the heaviness that can come with therapy, because I believe healing can hold both seriousness and joy.