Approach

At the core of my work as a therapist, I believe that the most transformation comes from forming a safe and trusting relationship with my clients. Of course, my training and experience matter, but my hope is for you to feel comfortable with me before we dive into your traumas. We are hurt in relationships, but we also heal in relationships and our therapeutic connection is part of that healing process. I view therapy as a collaborative process between therapist and client and am strengths-based, believing you are not at a deficit and are not defined by a diagnosis or symptoms. While I do have training in specific modalities, I take a holistic path to treatment and recognize that each client and family system is unique and diverse and may need a tailored approach. I recognize that social justice issues are a major contributor to many mental health concerns and do not see my clients in isolation from the issues going on in our world. You can expect to go as gently or slowly as you need, engage in play, artistic expression and embodiment practice, learning to trust your intuition. 


Areas of Focus

  • I see families as systems and believe that lasting change comes when we address the entire system. Within families, there are layers of dynamics that may not fully surface when only one person is in the therapy room. My hope is to provide space for you to better understand one another and learn to communicate in ways that support each member. I also have a passion for supporting parents and caregivers. There is not enough structural support in our society for those doing the difficult and important work of raising children. I aim to create a non-judgemental space where parents can honestly share concerns and moments of being triggered. Parent mental health is the best predictor of child mental health and I aim to create an environment where both parent and child can heal.

  • Intimate partners can bring so much joy and love into our lives. Even so, we often come into relationships with varying traumas, family histories, racial identities and beliefs. This can create difficulties in communication and conflict resolution. Whether you are just starting to date or have been together for a long time, couples or partnership therapy can be a place to learn new patterns of being together that help your relationship thrive.

  • Empaths and sensitive people tend to feel emotions on a deeper level and have sensitivities to environment, tastes, smells etc. Dr. Elaine Aron coined the term Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) for this trait. I believe being an HSP is a superpower, but living in a world not made for empaths can be challenging. I love to help folks learn more about their sensitivity, set boundaries and find nourishing ways to cope in a society that does not cater to these sensitivities. Learn more here

  • What happens when you experience trauma and abuse in a spiritual space that was supposed to be safe? It can be destabilizing to leave a high control religious context or cult and realize you are uncertain of what you believe or who you can trust. You may even be in an intimate relationship while all of this is unraveling and want a safe space to sort this out together with your partner. This can be a lonely and scary experience and I am passionate about supporting religious trauma survivors to honestly express questions, doubts, and feel less alone on this journey.

  • Foster care & adoption are inherently traumatic experiences, even if the foster or adoptive parents are loving and attuned. A majority of my clinical experience has involved supporting families who are navigating these processes. I love supporting parents to strengthen bonds and connection with the child in their care and also have parent-only time to explore the complexity and difficulty of being a foster or adoptive parent. The child in your care may have specific trauma and attachment challenges, as well as anxiety, depression and other externalizing behaviors. I love to help families understand the meaning behind the behavior, make space to validate the child’s big losses, and build trust with each other.

  • Sexual assault/abuse is a trauma that has been politicized and stigmatized in our society. When a child experiences it, the whole family is impacted. This is the case for adult survivors as well. Survivors can get blamed and may feel intense shame. I provide a space where you will be believed and never pressured to share more than you are ready to. If desired, I will connect you to advocacy resources. I have experience supporting families through recovery and also leading psychoeducation/ process groups for SA survivors.

 modalities & Frameworks

  • Attachment theory emphasizes how our early emotional & physical bonds with our primary caregiver(s), especially in the first couple years of life, are linked to how we relate to others in adulthood. The good news is that secure attachment can be learned at any point in life. I will help you explore what your early attachments were like, holding space for the nuanced context, so that you can develop (or continue to grow) healthy bonds in the present.

  • I often draw from some CPP techniques when working with young children (toddler-age 5) who have experienced trauma and their caregivers. This modality focuses on supporting caregivers to talk and play with their child about the trauma. It involves parent only sessions to explore caregiver concerns, trauma history and time to talk about ways to address difficult topics with children in developmentally appropriate ways. Learn more here

  • Ecotherapy is a framework that sees our relationship to the earth as an integral piece in the healing journey. I believe that some of our issues are rooted in disconnection from nature and thus ourselves. In sessions, this could look like exploring your relationship to the earth, nature-based meditations, spending time outside or bringing a natural item into session. Learn more here

  • EMDR is a trauma specific therapy that helps your brain connect with your body after traumatic experiences. Utilizing back and forth movement on both sides of your body (typically eye movement or tapping), the distressing memories are processed on a deeper level and disturbance decreases. This is primarily body-based therapy and does not require as much talking as traditional talk therapy. This could be helpful if you have a distressing trauma that you are not quite ready to talk about but would like some relief from symptoms. Learn more here

  • IFS acknowledges that we all have multiple parts of us. These parts are good, but they sometimes try to protect us in a way that is not the most helpful. I like to think about these parts like the emotions from the movie Inside Out as they were working to protect the characters they inhabited. I often utilize parts work in session, helping you get to know your parts, befriend them and find inner harmony. Learn more here

  • A framework that integrates the body, brain and relationships. Our brains are naturally social and we have nervous system responses that help us to move in and out of safety. Safe connections with others can be healing for our nervous system, brain and body after trauma. Dr. Louis Cozolino says that instead of survival of the fittest, interpersonal neurobiology proves that “Those who are nurtured best, survive best.” Learn more here

  • This modality integrates the principles of IFS into couples therapy, supporting couples/partnerships to find harmony internally and with the parts of each other. Learn more here

  • Children process their emotions and life experiences primarily through play instead of talking. Play therapist Gary Landreth describes play as children’s language and the toys as their words. As adults, we have to almost learn another language to support children as they process what is going on in their lives.