With trauma being such a widespread issue, I am very familiar with trauma and mental health conditions that relate to this. I have invested in becoming the best trauma-informed provider that I can be. I have grown to love getting to know individuals and their unique stories, and helping them on their healing journeys. I want my patients to feel safe, heard, and validated. I work with my patients to help them understand what they are going through, learn how they can heal to gain back control over their lives, and empower them to design their own future.
One of the very first things I tell my patients when we meet is "I know I literally just met you, so feel free to share only whatever you feel comfortable." I want my patients to feel comfortable and find a therapist that is a good fit for them. I recognize that differences in personalities, trainings, education, and experience contribute to finding that right fit. Most patients tell me by the end of our first session that they already feel so much more comfortable, and like this is going to be a good fit. That's my goal for every session, for you to feel heard and like you've gained something from our time together.
Each individual has their own therapeutic needs. I work hard to see the person, and personalize treatment to your specific needs. I want patients to feel confident in themselves, and not live by a label or stigma associated with a diagnosis. The diagnosis is not what's important. Addressing the related symptoms that are bothering the you are.
It's often easiest for us to notice our behaviors by how we react and feel. What's harder to recognize are the thoughts behind them that leads to these behavioral responses. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approaches to help patients identify this connection between past, current, and future life events and their thoughts, feelings, and reactions. We can then use this model to find ways to create positive change.
Have you ever wondered why you avoid things, are easily startled, or constantly on guard? Many common symptoms that we have are natural reactions to life experiences. Traumatic life events occur more often than we may realize. How we individually respond to these events varies widely. I enjoy being able to help patients understand themselves better, stabilize their mental health, and heal from their past so that they can take back control of their lives.
The mind and body are amazing, yet confusing. Learning why the body does certain things can help us understand the symptoms we are experiencing, and identify healthy methods of responding to them.