My Approach to Helping
Hello, and welcome! I am a Licensed Professional Counselor who enjoys working collaboratively with adults to develop self-compassion and coping skills, in the midst of life challenges and painful experiences. My style is collaborative and integrative. With professional training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Brainspotting, and Internal Family Systems (I am IFS-informed), I use elements of mindfulness, parts work, somatic experiencing, cognitive, and behavioral approaches to facilitate healing. Successful therapy starts with our relationship. It is important to me to maintain a warm, nonjudgmental space where you can be appreciated for exactly who you are. Along with warm support, I also enjoy using humor in sessions!
While growth will likely involve some discomfort, I take a gentle and trauma-informed approach as clients learn and implement new skills. Many of us learned to distract and avoid difficult emotions, shame ourselves, and try to “move on.” This only leaves us with unmet needs, and we may feel unseen, invalidated, depleted, and even hopeless. As you learn to tolerate discomfort, you will also learn to respond to emotions, reminders of trauma, and other challenging life circumstances from a place of self-compassion and values-based action.
Individual therapy work also includes observing yourself in the context of your relationships, beliefs, and community. We will work together to create a tailored plan for therapy based on your needs, strengths, culture, and personal values. It is my biggest priority for all of my clients to feel validated, and safe to be their authentic selves. I look forward to hearing from you to schedule a phone consultation!