My Approach to Helping
When over-functioning, high levels of achievement, and basic coping skills aren\'t leading to life satisfaction, it is time to look inward.
Welcome! I utilize attachment-based therapy to help women with anxiety heal from unprocessed trauma and increase self-confidence. Many of my clients were responsible, mature children and adolescents who learned to stay safe and succeed through people-pleasing, avoidance, perfectionism, independence and over-achieving. As adults, they often sacrifice their own needs to care for others. They may be hard workers at work but feel under appreciated. They may experience high levels of anxiety in relationships leading to avoiding closeness with others or clinging on tightly when their abandonment wounds are activated. They often feel like nothing they do is ever good enough, fear that others will reject them if they do not excel, or need to constantly prove themselves. I work with clients to explore the origins of their anxiety so that together we can process trauma, increase distress tolerance, and find new ways to self-soothe that allow them to live more freely and authentically.
More Info About My Practice
My practice is located in Newport Beach near the John Wayne airport. I offer in-person sessions and sessions online. I have immediate openings available for individual adults who want to work on decreasing anxiety, and increasing self-esteem and healthy relationships, teens who are navigating the challenging waters of growing into adults, and families who are navigating transition periods and desire to improve communication and closeness.
What I Say to People Concerned about the Therapy Process
I'm in it with you.
When I first started going to therapy, it was more an act of desperation than an exciting new adventure. For years, I had been able to avoid my internal world by focusing on school and work, spending time helping others or having fun with friends. Those avoidance coping skills worked great... until they didn't.
Going to therapy was scary at first. I had no idea what to do or where to start. And it took me a couple tries before I found a therapist I felt comfortable opening up to. But having a safe other to confide in, to self-explore with, and to cry in front of, was life changing for me and motivated me to become that person for others.
The therapy process is different for everyone but that is what is so great about it. We will work together to find out what style of therapy, what goals, and what pace works best for you. We take it one step at a time, exploring big emotions together, in a way that is intentional and purposeful. We will be talking, breathing, sometimes journaling, or drawing. I will be happy to answer your questions at any time and am always open to any feedback you have to give.
If you're feeling afraid, that's okay. You don't have to stop being scared; bravery is about doing things when they are scary. Let's start with a quick phone call so that I can learn a little about you, tell you a little about me, and you can ask any questions you may have. Just a phone call, it's free and there is zero obligation to proceed if we don't seem like the right fit or you aren't ready. I am eagerly awaiting your call (or email)!
(And if you aren't quite ready for a phone call, just sort of looking around, I still applaud you for being here. I know that took bravery too.)
