New to Grow
I’m a bit of an odd duck - if you can relate to that, or simply enjoy vibing with it, my approach to therapy might be a good fit for you! I am authentically myself, energetic, sincere and enjoy a good loud laugh. To amplify the impacts of traditional psychotherapy methods, I prefer to creatively blend them with a client’s unique interests, natural abilities, passions, culture and spirituality. The types of spiritual concepts/beliefs/practices I'm most familiar with include Mysticism, ecospirituality/nonduality and a sprinkling of Christianity. Partnering with clients and witnessing them reach goals on their own terms with self-awareness, self-accountability and genuine self-love is my greatest honor.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
Every session is scheduled for 55 min, intended to support growth and help cultivate joy in a welcoming atmosphere. If you’re using EAP or cash, the first session allows us to use a more casual pace while I begin to learn about who you are, the story of your path to therapy, what kind of support and/or guidance you desire and what you hope to achieve here. If you expressed interest in spiritual integration, we’ll use part of the first session to begin exploring your spirituality and discuss ways to use it in our work together. If you’re using traditional health insurance, our first session will be dedicated to making sure I have the information needed for the diagnostic assessment and treatment plan (as required by your insurance company). At the end of the first appointment, you will be given options to schedule additional appts or instead take some time to decide how you felt about our first meeting.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
I truly love when clients are in charge of their own transformation process and grow right out of therapy! My approach to therapy fosters light and love, for a sense of safety when clients are ready to examine the darker parts of themselves, their current struggles and their pasts. My open mind and creative nature help clients explore their passions and spirituality, leveraging these resources to reach goals and promote long-term wellness. I have a gift of constant awareness that we (adults) are primarily future versions of children who were shaped by life experiences completely out of our control. This awareness helps me maintain positive energy in my work, with feelings of genuine care, compassion and empathy. I give no reason to doubt my sincerity when I share a positive observation. And when I see your mistakes, or what you fear are your most cringey moments, you feel safe knowing I still see the ever-present goodness in you.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I consider referrals for age 17+. You do not need to identify as being a "spiritual person" or a "creative person" to see progress in therapy with me. However, my approach to therapy is ideal for people who are interested in using creative ideas and/or spirituality in therapy. Please consider working with me if you are fearful of feeling judged or dismissed by a therapist because of your beliefs or ways of being in the world. I am an especially great fit for those who are: • Creative Mystics on a quest... to find light in the darkness or to generate their own light! • Motivated to go deep and evolve. • Seeking space to be cared for by an objective yet nurturing figure. • Curious about experimenting with sobriety from alcohol and/or marijuana, or those who recently entered sobriety.
Attachment-based
The ways we navigate the world, how we relate to others and ourselves, are influenced by earlier life experiences with important caregiving figures. We can see positive changes in our lives when, at a pace that feels safe, we recognize our inner child parts with curiosity to address their past experiences, feelings and needs. Healing those old wounds, no matter how much time has passed, helps us reach our goals for adulthood.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I help clients create positive change for themselves, feel more equipped to manage strong emotions and experience less frequent and/or intense unwanted emotion. We can examine patterns in thought and behavior, then determine where the client can begin experimenting with slightly different choices and assess the impacts on how they feel about their life.
Eclectic
Throughout my career, I have utilized various methods/strategies for therapy that are tailored to fit each client (informed by client background, symptoms and struggles, goals, interests and preferences).
Integrative
I prefer to address mental health through a wide-angle perspective (wellness in all areas of personhood to achieve therapy goals). Clients often enjoy working with me as we blend traditional psychotherapy methods with strategies that leverage their unique interests, natural abilities, passions and spirituality.