My Approach to Helping
Experienced, dedicated, and compassionate clinician; looking forward to being a part of your journey.
My approach to therapy is relational first - every time a client meets you for the first time, they are putting themselves in a position of vulnerability. One of my primary goals in those first few sessions is to get to know the person across from me. Not only their symptoms, or their diagnosis. I believe it is more important to allow the client to feel comfortable and confident. To mirror that, I too allow some of myself come through. In so many instances, I am asking clients to divulge deeply personal information. Building trust takes time, it also involves give and take. Thus, I tend to share much of myself with my clients. Not in a way where they feel they have to care for me, or that they feel the session is about me. Enough though, in that they see me as a human. They see me as someone who can understand how some the world can get away from us at times, and typically when we least expect it. I am here to help you with navigating those moments. Or maybe things are going great, and you finally have time for therapy but aren\'t really sure because \"nothing is wrong with me.\" Nothing is wrong with anyone who seems me. We are human, we experience good, bad, and indifferent. Therapy is not a space for \"crazy,\" it is a space for you as you are, without worry, without judgement. I hope I can become a part of your journey.
More Info About My Practice
I am primarily practicing via telehealth, however, I do have an office in Springfield, VA. This is for clients who feel they are more comfortable in person.
What I Love about Being a Psychotherapist
I love being a therapist because I am able to be a part of other people's stories. I believe everyone has a story. Their diagnosis, their symptoms, and their current environment are only bits and pieces of who they really are, as a whole. By working with someone as a clinician, I am able to learn about the larger parts of the whole. I am able to help people walk through their experiences and find the areas in which they are strong. Even if they don't believe they are ;-) Then we explore the areas in which a person may have room for growth, as we all do. Together, we create a plan of action to grow in the areas you want to grow, and to help you really believe in the strengths you have. Being a psychotherapist, I am able to be a part of this entire process. I cannot imagine a greater honor. I know it sounds cheesy and yet it is still very true. I hope I am able to walk through your journey and help you see how awesome you are.
Why Going to Therapy Does Not Mean You are Weak or Flawed
This is a HUGELY important question - or statement. It is a very common misunderstanding regarding therapy. Therapy is a place where YOU are able to have space to explore, yourself, your life, your past, your future, your relationships... whatever it is that you feel is most important. Therapy is for many a sounding board; a way to sort through your thoughts with someone who may be able to help you untangle some things which are most knotted. Or when things are going well, and you are feeling good. Therapy is a great place to be able to share that good news; additionally, it is a time to review previous symptoms and frustrations within remitted diagnoses. This allows for you to identify some of the previously unnoticed triggers and feelings that may serve as warnings for symptoms. We can then plan how to cut those negative spirals off before they start. Going to therapy, it makes you strong, it helps you understand yourself better than most do, and it makes you more aware of ways you are stronger than ever.
Clinicians who offer sliding scale payment structures may offer lower or reduced fees based on an individual's ability to pay. Please contact this clinician for more details regarding their fees or sliding scale policy.
