Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is one of the primary evidence-based approaches I use to help clients better understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Often, the ways we think about ourselves, our relationships, and our experiences can keep us feeling stuck in patterns that no longer serve us. Together, we identify those patterns, challenge unhelpful beliefs, and develop healthier ways of thinking and responding that support lasting change. My approach to CBT is collaborative, practical, and individualized. Rather than simply telling clients to "think positively," I help them examine whether their thoughts are accurate, helpful, and aligned with the life they want to build. We work together to recognize cognitive distortions, identify the beliefs driving emotional distress, and develop realistic strategies that improve emotional well-being and everyday functioning. I believe insight is important, but meaningful change happens when insight is paired with action. I frequently integrate CBT with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Narrative Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing to provide treatment that is tailored to each client's unique needs. This allows us to not only address unhelpful thought patterns but also build psychological flexibility, reconnect with personal values, and create lasting behavioral change. CBT is especially effective for clients experiencing anxiety, depression, ADHD, relationship challenges, chronic health conditions, grief, stress, and major life transitions. My style is warm, honest, and direct. I believe therapy should be a place where clients feel genuinely supported while also being challenged to grow. I won't simply validate every thought or feeling. I help clients explore whether those thoughts are serving them and equip them with practical tools to create meaningful, sustainable change both inside and outside of therapy.

Acceptance and commitment (ACT)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is one of the evidence-based approaches I integrate into my work with individuals and couples. Rather than focusing on eliminating difficult thoughts or emotions, I help clients develop psychological flexibility which is the ability to make room for painful internal experiences while continuing to move toward the life they want to live. My goal is to help clients stop struggling against thoughts and feelings they cannot control and instead build a meaningful life guided by their personal values. My approach to ACT is practical, collaborative, and action-oriented. I work with clients to recognize unhelpful thinking patterns, practice cognitive defusion (learning to step back from thoughts rather than becoming consumed by them), increase present-moment awareness, and identify the values that matter most to them. Together, we develop small, achievable actions that align with those values, even when anxiety, grief, self-doubt, chronic pain, or other difficult emotions are present. I commonly integrate ACT with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Narrative Therapy, allowing clients to both understand the stories they tell themselves and develop healthier ways of responding to those stories. Rather than trying to "fix" every uncomfortable feeling, I encourage clients to build resilience by accepting that discomfort is a normal part of life while choosing behaviors that reflect who they want to be. My style is warm, honest, and direct. I believe therapy should be a collaborative process where clients feel supported while also being gently challenged when patterns of avoidance, fear, or self-criticism are keeping them stuck. I frequently use ACT with clients experiencing anxiety, ADHD, chronic pain or health conditions, relationship challenges, grief, life transitions, and stress, helping them move from simply surviving toward living a richer, more meaningful life.

Narrative

Narrative Therapy is one of the approaches I integrate into my work with individuals and couples to help clients understand the stories they have developed about themselves, their relationships, and their lives. Many people become stuck in narratives shaped by trauma, anxiety, grief, shame, or difficult life experiences. Together, we explore those stories, identify how they may be influencing current thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and work toward creating a more balanced, empowering narrative that better reflects the client's strengths, resilience, and values. My approach to Narrative Therapy is collaborative and compassionate while remaining practical and honest. I help clients separate themselves from the problems they are experiencing rather than viewing those struggles as defining who they are. Through guided reflection and thoughtful questioning, clients gain insight into long-standing patterns, recognize moments of resilience that may have been overlooked, and begin to rewrite the stories that no longer serve them. I often integrate Narrative Therapy with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and systemic approaches. This allows clients not only to recognize the beliefs and experiences that have shaped their identity but also to develop practical skills for responding differently moving forward. Rather than remaining trapped by past experiences, clients learn how to honor their story while recognizing they still have the ability to write the next chapter. My style is warm, honest, and direct. I believe healing comes from understanding how our experiences have influenced us without allowing those experiences to dictate our future. I work collaboratively with clients to identify their strengths, challenge unhelpful narratives, and build a life that reflects who they are—not simply what has happened to them. Narrative Therapy is particularly helpful for clients experiencing anxiety, trauma, grief, life transitions, relationship challenges, low self-worth, and identity concerns, as it creates space for both healing and meaningful change.

Motivational Interviewing

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is one of the evidence-based approaches I use to help clients navigate change in a way that feels empowering rather than overwhelming. I believe lasting change is most meaningful when it comes from a person's own values, goals, and motivations—not from pressure or advice alone. My role is to help clients discover and strengthen their own reasons for change while respecting that ambivalence is a normal part of the process. My approach to Motivational Interviewing is collaborative, nonjudgmental, and client-centered. Rather than telling clients what they "should" do, I help them explore both sides of their ambivalence, identify discrepancies between where they are and where they want to be, and build confidence in their ability to move forward. Through thoughtful questions, reflective listening, and collaborative goal-setting, clients often gain greater clarity about what truly matters to them and what steps they are ready to take. I frequently integrate Motivational Interviewing with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Narrative Therapy. This combination allows clients to not only increase their motivation for change but also develop practical skills for overcoming obstacles, responding differently to difficult thoughts and emotions, and creating lasting behavioral change. Whether clients are struggling with anxiety, depression, ADHD, relationship concerns, chronic health conditions, life transitions, or patterns of avoidance, I work with them to identify realistic, meaningful goals that align with the life they want to build. My style is warm, honest, and direct. I believe clients are the experts on their own lives, and I strive to create a therapeutic relationship where they feel heard, respected, and supported while also being gently challenged when they become stuck. Rather than trying to convince clients to change, I help them uncover the motivation that already exists within them and translate that motivation into consistent, sustainable action.