For nearly three years, I’ve provided affirming, accessible counseling through BetterHelp for clients navigating questions of identity, belonging, and purpose. Roughly half identify as LGBTQ and come to therapy with deep uncertainty about who they are, as well as stories of rejection and judgment. Many live in South and West Texas, where affirming counseling is limited or unavailable. Through telehealth, I reach clients who might otherwise go without care. Often the first thing I notice is the quiet exhale that comes when they finally feel accepted. BetterHelp allows them to seek support without fear of exposure, creating a bridge to care that traditional settings cannot always provide. That commitment to safety became real a few months into my work, when I received a message from a new client. He wrote, “I’ve never told anyone this before.” What followed was a story of the painful tension between who he had been told to be and who he really was. That message captures why I do this work. I’ve heard many similar stories since, each marked by quiet bravery. My own memory of searching for a safe space to be honest, but never finding one, guides how I listen now. My practice integrates spirituality and identity, two parts that often feel in conflict, especially within the LGBTQ community. Through a calm, reflective process, clients learn that authenticity and faith are not mutually exclusive. I see my role as helping people reclaim peace and dignity where shame and inauthenticity once stood. In a time when many still feel unsafe being themselves, offering safety, respect, and understanding remains both my calling and my community impact. Equitable, accessible care should never depend on geography, finances, or social acceptance. My contribution to this mission lies in quietly expanding that access through consistent, compassionate presence. The same commitment to accessibility that defines my work with clients also shapes the realities of my professional life. Like many counselors, I entered this field out of a deep sense of purpose rather than financial expectation, but the weight of my educational debt remains a substantial burden. These obligations limit my ability to pursue advanced training and continuing education that would expand my clinical expertise and strengthen the quality of care I provide. Support from the Therapist Impact Fund would do more than ease that burden. It would provide the freedom to grow by reducing my student loan debt and allowing me to invest in advanced training such as EMDR certification and group therapy facilitation, expanding both the depth and reach of my clinical work. It would also free me to offer more reduced-fee sessions and community groups that make therapy attainable for clients with limited means. In the long term, I hope to contribute through research, writing, and teaching, helping other therapists integrate trauma-informed and identity-affirming care into their practices. Just as importantly, it would reduce the stress and anxiety that accompany long-term financial strain, creating space for greater focus and balance in my work and life. This grant represents more than financial assistance; it represents the chance to continue serving my clients with renewed stability, gratitude, and purpose while sustaining the mission that BetterHelp advances every day, removing barriers, expanding access, and empowering people to seek care in a space built on safety and respect.