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I have been a therapist for the past 12 years and have worked with adolescents and adults, as well as children and families from diverse backgrounds. My focus has been primarily on depression, anxiety, trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, life transitions, and pregnancy/postpartum concerns.
My approach
My approach to therapy is an integration of the psychodynamic approach with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as well as mind/body and mindfulness techniques. This essentially means that we would be collaboratively exploring thoughts, beliefs, and personal narratives and adjusting narratives that are false or faulty. As a more profound basis of this exploration, the psychodynamic approach helps identify early experiences and messages that are often at the root of more deeply helping distorted or unhealthy beliefs. Additionally, incorporating mind/body and mindfulness techniques to create more awareness around our physical responses to psychological distress is especially helpful to clients struggling with anxiety or trauma. I often use art in my own life to access feelings/thoughts that are not easily expressed verbally, and I will also use these techniques if clients are interested.
My focus
I work primarily with adolescents and adults, although I am also open to occasionally seeing children and families. I enjoy working with clients with varying needs and diverse backgrounds. My focus is on depression, anxiety, trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, and life and relationship challenges. I also have experience working with pregnancy and postpartum issues and parenting stress/challenges.
My communication style
I am very grateful for the level of trust that clients often come into therapy and their willingness to explore sometimes very painful and intimate experiences. With this in mind, I approach our sessions with empathy, nonjudgment, and attention to the therapeutic relationship. Communication is not a simple process in that sometimes there are deeper meanings behind the things that we say, such as how we tell them, what is being said underneath the actual message, our body language, and so on. Part of our goal together is achieving greater understanding and curiosity about what is being communicated. This can be achieved through gentle questioning, reflection, and mutual feedback.
My journey to therapy
Before I started my path toward becoming a therapist, I was studying anthropology. I have always been interested in the human experience, how our experiences shape our behavior, how our thinking shapes how we see our past, present, and future, and what it takes to create change and healing when faced with challenges. One of the things I truly enjoy about working with my clients is the collaboration and relationship building that happens as we work towards exploring patterns of behavior, beliefs, thoughts, and feelings in order to gain greater insight and create opportunities for growth and transformation. I have received training in cognitive behavioral (CBT), trauma-focused CBT, mindfulness-based, somatic, and play therapies. I also provide outside individual and group clinical supervision for therapists completing hours for licensure.
My goals for you
The trust and warmth that characterizes an excellent therapeutic relationship create an environment where self-reflection and inquiry can be followed, hopefully by a willingness to step outside our comfort zones (even in the tiniest ways) and face our obstacles and challenges. The journey toward transformation, healing, and a more fulfilling life is not necessarily easy and does not travel along a straight path. However, it can be a deeply rewarding process. Although clients' personal journeys will continue after the completion of therapy, my goal is that they feel more empowered to navigate challenges and obstacles using the tools that they have identified during our work together. I feel privileged to be a small part of the journey alongside my clients – providing a space for honest introspection, reflection, and change.
My first session with you
The first session is an opportunity for me to gain an understanding of what a client is looking for in seeking therapy and for clients to assess if I am a good fit for their needs. There is often a lot that clients have been holding on to, and it's sometimes a welcome relief to be able to speak to someone about challenges and difficulties that have been happening. I think we sometimes underestimate the power of being truly listened to, feeling heard, and telling our stories, particularly if we have experienced trauma or are experiencing challenges. I will try to provide that in our first session and onwards. Everyone's needs and reasons for seeking therapy are different, and I tailor my approach to meet the needs of each client.
