I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Masters Degree in Social Work and more than 20 years of experience as a Clinical Therapist, working with adults, couples and families. I have a lengthy history of past employment with the Department of Veterans Affairs, where I worked closely with Veterans experiencing a variety of mental health issues including Complex-PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, Substance Use Issues, co-occurring medical issues and Psychosis. I work from a culturally curious, trauma-informed perspective, with the awareness that every individual and every nervous system requires its own unique blend of therapy. Therefore, I am equipped with an eclectic bag of therapeutic tools and services. Although I am trained in a variety of evidence-based therapies, I am wedded to none. I will partner with you to determine the approach that works best for you, whether more structured with homework or a more flexible approach, using multiple tools. Whatever the process, we will ensure you feel safe to be vulnerable and explore, as you work toward self-evolution and a better quality of life!
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
At our first session, we will get to know one another (mostly me getting to know you, but happy to answer any questions you may have about me!) This is considered an "Intake", in which we will delve into the surface of your history and get a basic construct of the inner workings of You. This will provide us with a basis for continued exploration and growth in sessions to come. The hardest part in all of this is making the decision to commit to yourself and start therapy. It all gets easier from here. :-)
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
My style is interactive, authentic, and warm. I strive to incorporate a sense of curiosity and weave in humor when appropriate. Self-work can be difficult, but healthy laughter builds connection and helps the issues we face to feel more manageable. It is my deep knowing that we all find purpose in life through the lessons we’ve learned from our past. I have been privileged enough to experience some fairly difficult things in my life and also, fortunate enough to experience the beauty of healing. The pain I experienced in my past allows me to have deeper insight into the pain felt by others, as well as an ability to connect quickly with individuals who have a desire for growth, healing and transformation. This is why I am so passionate about what I do. YOU are worthy of healing too.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
While my ideal client is anyone ready to show up and engage, I have frequently worked with Veterans, LGBTQIA+, and Older Adults. Additionally, I have extensive experience working with people struggling with Depression, Anxiety, issues surrounding past Trauma/Abuse, Identity Exploration, Grief & Loss, and Relationship Support. I firmly believe in every individual's ability to heal and grow if given the chance.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
Recognizes thoughts as temporary and harmless and works to change how we react to our thoughts, without judgment. Helps individuals to separate their identity from their thoughts & feelings. Individuals are guided in determining what their values are and encouraged to take committed action steps toward living a life in line with those values. The idea is that, if we are living life out of line with our values, we will never feel a sense of peace and will always have difficulty overcoming psychological obstacles. We want to integrate our values and behaviors.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT is based on the idea that thoughts, feelings and actions are all connected and cyclical. CBT is a structured therapy which utilizes in-session exercises and homework to assist individuals in interrupting the thought-feeling-behavior cycle by recognizing automatic negative thoughts, then challenging those and replacing them with more helpful, realistic thoughts. Doing so leads to improved emotional and behavioral responses. This form of therapy can be extremely useful with individuals suffering with depression and anxiety.
Cognitive Processing (CPT)
Designed to treat Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. CPT is a type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that focuses on helping individuals change negative thoughts and beliefs that result from trauma. It is an evidence-based therapy that is facilitated over several weeks of consecutive sessions with weekly homework assigned at the end of each session. CPT can effectively rewire brain chemistry and reduce unhelpful thought patterns and negative emotions.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
DBT is a type of psychotherapy that helps individuals develop skills to manage intense emotions, improve interpersonal relationships, tolerate distress, and avoid harmful behaviors. It focuses on building four core skill sets: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
IFS views the mind as a complex system of interconnected parts, each with its own unique role and function. These parts, also known as sub-personalities or sub-egos, can be healed and integrated to foster greater internal harmony and well-being. The core concept of IFS is the Self, the compassionate and wise core of the individual that is always present but can be obscured by the parts. In essence, IFS therapy is about helping individuals become more aware of their inner world, understand the motivations and roles of their different parts, and cultivate a compassionate relationship with themselves, ultimately leading to greater self-compassion, healing, and wholeness.