I work mostly with clients dealing with trauma and an array of issues that stem from a trauma based history like depression, anxiety, PTSD, self-worth and value, and relationships issues. I also work with clients dealing with life transitions like parenthood, mid-life issues, and divorce, young adults learning how to manage adulthood, and those with chronic illnesses among other things.
In your first session, we'll explore what brought you to therapy, how these issues are creating impairments in your daily life, and then decide the most appropriate ways to help you make progress. We will complete intake documents, create treatment plan goals, and work to set up a routine schedule for follow-ups. Fit and comfortability will also be assessed during this time. This first session is intended to help you feel at ease about your decision to enter into therapy and to feel heard, seen, and validated in this process.
In general, I feel my greatest asset is being able to connect with the clients I serve. Rapport and relationship are essential to the therapeutic process and in helping clients to learn to trust and to heal from past hurts. My clients report feeling accepted without judgement, cared for, and understood which is the primary difference between me and other therapists that they may have seen in the past. Regarding women's issues, I am myself a woman who has experienced dealing with my own life transitions. I have been where you are and therefore, I am very empathetic with others living this experience. Helping others find their way through their transition and on the other side of it successfully and with skills they can carry lifelong is my goal. Regarding trauma and its invasive impact, I have been working with those who have experienced deep trauma for my entire career and have developed skills and levels of empathy necessary for helping to create a safe environment to heal.
There is a part of me that feels extremely anxious. There is a part of me that gets really sad and down at times. There is a part of part of me that can hardly get out of bed some days. There is a part of me that needs to take care of everyone and everything. There is a part of me that wants to check out and escape from all the responsibilities I have. There is a part of me that thinks about dying and a part of me that wants to live. There is a part of me that …. How many times have we all had these feelings or thoughts that come over us that seem conflicting at times but represent how we are feeling in the moment. Understanding our parts even those that are contradictory, being able to validate and accept our parts, and creating balance and space for our parts mentally can be attained through therapy. Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) is designed to allow us to heal from our pain, hurt, and fears by managing the parts that have been created out of our traumas. At Phoenix Rising, we use IFS to help people better understand the internal forces that impact their daily experience as well as to help them gain some degree of balance and control over these experiences.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is a method I use to help you understand and change the way you think and behave. We start by identifying any unhelpful thoughts you might have, which can often influence your mood and actions without you even realizing it. Once we've pinpointed these thoughts, we work together to challenge and reframe them into more balanced and helpful ones. Alongside this, we focus on changing certain behaviors by setting small, achievable goals and gradually working towards them. This process helps you see how changing your actions can positively impact your thoughts and feelings. Throughout our sessions, we'll also develop coping strategies that you can use in your daily life, such as relaxation techniques, problem-solving skills, and ways to manage stress. CBT is a collaborative process, meaning we work together as a team to help you achieve your goals and improve your overall well-being.
Person-Centered Therapy is a therapeutic approach that emphasizes the importance of creating a supportive and non-judgmental environment. In our sessions, my role is to provide you with empathy, genuineness, and unconditional positive regard. This means I listen to you without judgment and accept you for who you are. The idea is that by creating a safe and accepting space, you can explore your thoughts and feelings more freely. This approach helps you to tap into your own inner resources and find your own solutions to the challenges you're facing. It's a collaborative process where you are the expert on your own life, and my job is to support you in your journey towards self-discovery and personal growth.