My Approach to Helping
Whether you've been in therapy before and want a new perspective, or this is your first time exploring therapy options: if you feel stuck in patterns that you know you want to change but don't know where to start, you're in the right place. Perhaps you find yourself people-pleasing to avoid disappointing others, or you have difficulty enforcing boundaries or saying no for fear of backlash or rejection. Ultimately, you're left feeling anxious and exhausted, all the while not honoring your own needs and wishes. Or maybe you feel out of control of your emotional reactions to certain situations, triggers, or people and want to understand why. There's a reason so many can relate to these feelings, and there's a way to change it.
I believe our unique experiences shape who we are and how we react to situations. In fact, it's an evolutionary adaptation intended to protect us. Sometimes these reactions are helpful, while other times, well... they're not. We can identify patterns that may have been helpful to you at one time, but are no longer serving you, and replace them with adaptive responses that align with your personal needs and boundaries.
You have the power and ability to overcome self-doubt, quiet your inner critic, let go of fear and guilt, and change what holds you back from being your authentic self. With a customized plan, we can begin the healing process by addressing the root of the issue, bringing clarity, relief, and peace at a time when it is needed most. I help my clients navigate struggles with relationship issues, anxiety, trauma, interpersonal connection in friendships, the workplace, and dating, communication problems, low self-esteem, goal-attainment, family conflict, prenatal and postpartum anxiety, coping with life transitions, and more.
Please visit the "What's It Like" page on my website to get a more in-depth look at what therapy with me is like. Many questions can be answered from my website so feel free to look around or send me a message via email, text, or call and I'll be happy to answer any questions you have. Thanks so much for reading, I hope to connect with you.
More Info About My Practice
I draw from several different modalities to create treatment plans that are tailored to meet each of my client's specific needs and preferences through talk therapy with an emphasis on attachment-focused techniques and emotionally focused therapy; I also use EMDR for trauma resolution and internal resource building.
Attachment-based therapy explores our early experiences with our primary attachment figures (most often a parentparents) that eventually shape how we see ourselves, how we see the world, and how we relate to others. Our attachment style affects our relationships with our friends, partners, and self. This part of the work focuses on expressing emotions and rebuilding trust to promote healthy adult relationships, improved levels of self-worth, and decreasing symptoms of anxiety and depression.
I completed the EFT externship where I studied directly under the creator and founder, Dr. Sue Johnson, clinical psychologist, author, researcher, professor, and innovator in the field of couples' psychology. In EFT, we explore the patterns in your relationship that aren't working for you, create a more secure bond, and increase trust to move the relationship in a healthier, more positive direction. EFT techniques are helpful outside of couples work as well, and can be used to improve interpersonal relationships (i.e., buildingmaintaining friendships and workplace interactions), family dynamics, and communication skills.
EMDR is an integrative approach involving the reprocessing of traumatic memories on a neurological level to treat a variety of presenting problems, including panic attacks, complicated grief, disturbing memories, phobias, pain disorders, performance anxiety, general anxiety, PTSD, stress reduction, sexual andor physical abuse, body image issues, anger- management, and more. Please see below for more detailed information about EMDR.
On the Fence About Going to Therapy?
One of the things I hear most from my clients is, "I wish I had started sooner!" Now, I don't say this so people start "should-ing" on themselves (I should have started sooner, I should have done this or that...). There are so many reasons why we hesitate to commit to therapy: lack of time, finances, skepticism, FEAR----fear of change, fear of judgment (from the therapist or those around us), fear of facing parts of ourselves, fear of emotional pain---and all of these concerns are valid! But prioritizing our mental health is so important. We are worth the weekly time. We may wonder if life can really be that different from what we have always felt and known, and yes, therapy can touch on some painful parts of ourselves, both past and present. But your therapist is an ally who is there to guide you towards healing. Your therapist will not judge you, or the parts that you may judge, yourself. Participating in therapy is not a sign of weakness, or being flawed, or admitting that there is "something wrong with you;" quite the opposite. Therapy is a commitment to ourselves to change the things that simply don't work for us anymore. It is the process to heal the wounded parts of us with someone who can understand and sit with us in these painful moments. It is never too late to start therapy, to start healing, to make some changes, to want to feel better, to do things differently, to see things differently. Whatever your goals for therapy may be, reach out and ask whatever questions you have, talk about your fears and concerns. I will be happy to answer your questions and we can find the best therapeutic solution for you---even if that is how to search for another therapist that better meets your needs. Connecting with your therapist is important. You have nothing to lose, and so much to gain.
