Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

🧠 My Therapeutic Approach: CBT and Eclectic Focus My style is highly collaborative and rooted in evidence-based practices, primarily Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), delivered through an overall Eclectic orientation. This means I tailor our work to your specific needs while focusing on proven, practical techniques. How We Will Work Together: Deep Listening & Validation: The first and most critical step is ensuring you feel completely heard and safe. I will listen intently as you share your experiences. Exploring Thinking Patterns: We will search for the "evident part" behind your strong feelings. We will challenge and explore negative thinking patterns—such as "stinkin' thinkin'," catastrophic thinking, or fortune telling—that lead to distress. Psychoeducation and Application: I provide psychoeducation on the core principles of how your thoughts influence your feelings and behaviors. You will receive practical homework to help you self-assess and track these thoughts in your daily life. Building New Confidence: We will use the new, objective evidence we uncover to build a more open and confident personal life. By lowering your emotional guards, you'll feel better internally, and your friends and social circle will notice the difference in your newfound confidence. My ultimate goal is to provide you with the tools to become your own therapist.

Family Therapy

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 My Approach to Family Therapy Effective family treatment is about more than just talking or listening; it's about actively changing the patterns that keep you stuck. While psychoeducation is the "tip of the iceberg" for understanding the problem, our work dives into the deep waters of your family's daily interactions. As an Eclectic/Systemic Therapist, I draw upon the most effective models to target two main areas: 1. Structure: Clarifying Roles and Boundaries I utilize principles from Structural Family Therapy to address who is doing what in your family. If there's chaos or conflict, we examine the underlying organization, boundaries, and hierarchy. Key Techniques: We may use Enactment (having you interact naturally in session) to observe the process, allowing me to coach you toward creating stronger, clearer boundaries and roles that bring stability. 2. Strategy: Breaking Negative Cycles I incorporate Strategic Family Therapy principles to quickly interrupt the self-defeating communication patterns and cycles that maintain your difficulties. Key Techniques: I may reframe a problem to help your family see it differently, or give specific directives (homework) to break a negative routine, allowing the family to behave in new, healthier ways. My goal is to provide your family with the precise tools and interventions needed to reorganize, communicate effectively, and experience lasting, positive systemic change.

Child Parent Psychotherapy

🤝 Conjoint Sessions: Healing Together While the initial intake may be conducted with parents alone, I frequently utilize conjoint sessions—bringing the child and parent together—when it offers the most therapeutic benefit. These sessions are strategically used in key situations: Bridging Disagreements: When parents and children are unable to see eye-to-eye, conjoint sessions provide a structured, safe space to improve mutual understanding and communication. Trauma Navigation: In instances where trauma has occurred, these sessions offer crucial, shared support, helping both the child and parent navigate the emotional impact and align on the most appropriate treatment path for healing. This approach ensures that healing is a collaborative, family-wide effort.

Dialectical Behavior (DBT)

💎 DBT: Managing Instability and Intense Emotions I utilize Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) as a highly effective intervention for individuals—children, teens, and adults—who struggle with impulsivity, self-harm, and reactive behavior that leads to unpredictable states of instability. This approach is particularly beneficial for those experiencing symptoms related to Borderline Personality Traits, Bipolar Disorder, DMDD, or patterns of codependency and intense emotional dysregulation. How We Apply DBT: TIP and Chain Analysis In my sessions, DBT is practical and active. We focus on developing immediate coping skills to manage emotional crises: TIP Skills Integration: We often begin sessions with an interaction using a sensory stimulus (such as ice or stress balls) to ensure the person utilizes rapid coping skills to regulate their nervous system. Chain Analysis: We then deeply engage in Chain Analysis, a core DBT tool. This technique helps the person systematically break down the sequence of events, thoughts, feelings, and actions that led to a high-risk behavior (like self-harm or suicidal ideation). This breakdown reveals the exact points where skillful intervention could have occurred. In conjoint sessions, parents are often deeply involved in supporting the person through these tasks, reinforcing DBT's fundamental value: skill-building, validation, and emotional regulation to create a life worth living.