Meet Dre
Welcome! I’m Dre, the heart and mind behind Tender Heart Therapy.
I identify as queer and non-binary, and I deeply understand the unique challenges many face in navigating their identities and experiences. My therapeutic approach is rooted in social justice and encompasses a compassionate, holistic lens. I believe that every person holds their own wisdom; together, we’ll explore your story, using techniques like narrative therapy, expressive arts, somatic therapy, person-centered therapy, and more.
With experience in addressing a range of issues—including childhood emotional neglect (CEN), trauma, grief, identity exploration, life transitions, the impact of late-stage capitalism, and mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, bipolar, complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)—I’m here to support you on your journey toward healing and self-discovery. My goal is to empower you to honor your path while drawing on both your innate knowledge and the wisdom I’ve gathered along the way.
Let's embark on this transformational journey together!
My Philosophy
At the core of my work is this simple truth: I’m a person first, therapist second. I come into the therapy space not as an expert who has all the answers, but as a fellow human—with knowledge, tools, and training—here to walk alongside you with deep respect for the wisdom you already carry. I believe therapy works best when it’s collaborative, compassionate, and rooted in a genuine connection. You bring your lived experience, insight, and intuition. I bring curiosity, care, and a supportive framework to help you explore, grow, and heal.
My approach is both narrative and holistic—which means I see you not as a diagnosis or a problem to be solved, but as a whole person with a unique story shaped by relationships, culture, community, identity, and lived experience. Together, we look at the stories that have been told about you and the ones you tell yourself—and gently ask which ones are still serving you, and which ones you might be ready to rewrite. I also honor the mind-body connection and incorporate practices that support emotional, physical, and nervous system.
Clients often describe me as warm, grounded, playful, and authentic. I bring my full, heart-led self into this work—offering both presence and perspective, sincerity and humor, softness and strength. I hold space for dualities: joy and grief, confusion and clarity, vulnerability and power. I can meet you in the abstract, the deeply emotional, or the day-to-day concrete—because I believe all of it matters.
I founded Tender Heart Therapy to be just that: a tender space where all hearts are welcome, where realness is encouraged, and where healing can happen in the presence of kindness, curiosity, and care. I am committed to creating an inclusive and justice-oriented practice where all peoples and identities feel seen, respected, and safe. Love, in all its forms—self-love, community love, healing love—is the through-line in my work.
Whether you’re feeling stuck, seeking clarity, or simply craving a space where you can be fully yourself, I’m here. I offer therapy that meets you where you are and honors where you’ve been—always with heart, always with hope.