MY APPROACH

Considering therapy is a vulnerable and courageous step in becoming a more authentic version of you. In order to build healthy connections, we must feel safe. Safety in the therapeutic relationship is important for all of the learning, work, and personal narrative to take place. I don’t promise that you won’t feel any discomfort and I don’t promise quick fixes to your presenting issues; but I do promise to show up, validate your experience, have fun, and stay curious together. My approach is person-centered, and I use a strength-based lens to find which strengths are already present in your life, so we can build and expand on them together.

For some clients the idea of felt safety and connection may be very difficult to imagine based on their life experiences. For others who have had a sense of safety and connection this may not be their main therapeutic goal, but better understanding how safety and connection impacts our daily behaviors, relationships, and interactions with our inner & outer-worlds is the key to becoming more resilient, more fulfilled, and more prepared to evolve into the person you want to become.

When we have a better understanding of how we, as humans, take in our inner and outer worlds, as well as respond to stressful stimuli (people, environments, etc.) we develop a deeper, more integrated understanding of the things that happened to us. It moves us from the question, “What’s wrong with me?” to “What did (or did not) happen to me?” These things that did happen or did not happen, and are interfering with our ability to feel safe, are what I refer to as trauma. Some traumas are “small t” trauma, such as a challenging friendship or a temporary financial worry. Whereas “big T” traumas include: abuse, neglect, war, constant relationship turmoil, bankruptcy, and the list goes on. Our traumas (big or small) are what typically keep us from achieving the kind of life we strive for.

As an EMDR certified, cognitive-behavioral, strengths-based, solution-focused, person-centered, attachment-focused, somatic, experiential (wilderness therapy), IFS informed therapist; I use evidence-based approaches to help clients become aware of their strengths and challenges. I am not a “one size fits all” therapist and use a variety of modalities to help you get curious, gain new perspectives, nurture your growth and development, and embrace being an imperfect human.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a therapeutic modality I frequently use to help clients get curious about how their body sensations, thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are all interrelated. I help clients to re-frame their narrative, unhook from negative thoughts, and find new, powerful, and more adaptive perspectives to view their life story.

Through evidence-based practices such as Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Internal-Family Systems (IFS), I help clients find a deeper connection to the wounded parts of themselves who need extra care to heal from traumatic events. EMDR, created by Francine Shapiro, is a memory-based therapy, which incorporates somatic, mindful, and guided imagery to help clients work through current symptomatic issues, as well as issues relating to past traumatic experiences. IFS, also called parts work, created by Richard Schwartz, helps to create healthier attachments within our internal-system (body and brain) in order to help wounded parts become more adaptive to our external attachments with other people. The idea is that viewing yourself as a multitude of parts will lead to more awareness, greater understanding, and ultimately a higher level of self-compassion. Trusting the process that your body wants to heal, your body can heal, and I am here to support you during the process.

I am also a huge advocate for finding ways to heal our inner world outside of a conventional therapeutic setting, which is why I also incorporate nature therapy into my practice. My first experience with wilderness therapy was as a young child walking and spending time in the rural mountains behind my parents farm. There I basked in the awe and wonder of the world around me and discovered how empowering nature could feel within. I have always been drawn to the healing power of nature therapy, whether it’s at a warm beach, dipping my toes in a mountain creek, exploring trails, or climbing rocks in high deserts - nature is truly my sanctuary. Enjoying the benefits of nature is something I have now brought to my therapy practice and I am so excited to share its benefits with others!

Finally, my ideal client is someone who wants to be helped. Someone who is ready to lean in, get curious, build resources for support, and stay engaged in the process. In my many years of counseling, in both school and community mental health, I have worked with many students and families from all walks of life. My clients range from teens to older adults (15 to 65), and I love working with all people - regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, race, or religious background.

Again, thank you for taking the first step toward becoming a more connected, aware, and compassionate person toward yourself and others. I look forward to working with you soon!