My Approach to Helping
I am a somatic and relationship therapist, and provide both individual and couples therapy. For adults and adolescents dealing with various types of trauma from developmental to acute, I use Somatic Experiencing as well as IFS (internal family systems) to help you heal the intensity of your experience of past events that may be keeping you feeling overwhelmed and settle your nervous system in the here and now. My aim is to provide a safe and supportive space for you to work through life's challenges. In collaboration, we'll work to improve your understanding and relationship with yourself and those around you.
For couples I use Gottman Couples Therapy to help you improve communication, and work through things from infidelity to parenting to navigating relationship changes. I am a sex positive therapist and have an understanding of the polyamorous and non-monogamy community, as well as the LGBTQIA+ community.
I am Board Certified in holistic nutrition and Certified in Functional Medicine, and work with Binge Eating and other patterns of disordered eating, as well as working with chronic illness and gut issues like IBD and IBS. I also support women dealing with PMDD, infertility, menopausal challenges, and other hormone related challenges both through counseling as well as functional nutrition if this is also desired.
I aim to meet you where you are and identify the best support and approaches for you at this time in your life. Feel free to reach out with any questions to see if my approach is a right fit for you or your relationship.
More Info About My Practice
My office is located in Prairie Village, KS for in-person therapy, and I provide online sessions as well. I am a functional medicine nutrition provider also, and provide programs seasonally to re-establish healthy habits around self care; sleep, nourishing foods, and mindfulness strategies. I regularly send out resources and blog info to my clients which can be accessed on my website, or by signing up for my e-mail list if this would be of support to you.
How My Own Struggles Made Me a Better Therapist
One of the best things I ever did was ask my Mom for help. I was a full grown adult trying to address some things I'd been dealing with since I was a teenager. But, as a teen I didn't have the courage to ask for help. I thought I could do it all. And I was ashamed and scared to share and thought that I could figure it all out myself. But I was wrong. I needed help.
I told my Mom that I could talk all day about this problem. That I could open up at this point in my life to most people about it. But, that didn't change the problem.... it didn't change the behaviors that were in the driver's seat and were really negatively impacting my quality of life.
And you know what she said?
She said I needed a "bottom up therapist". I needed a body based therapeutic approach. She referred me to a somatic therapist.
And it changed my life.
After that, when I decided to become a mental health provider, I knew I'd learn to do the same type of therapy. And I love watching how helpful this approach is for clients. If you feel like your stress response, emotional reactions, trauma, feelings in your body, andor triggers are in the driver's seat, feel free to reach out and learn more about how somatic based therapy approaches may be supportive for you.
