(he/him)
Have you been struggling with mood, behavioral problems, or unwanted thoughts lately? Losing time from work, family, or commitments? Feeling "out of control" or struggling with compulsions? These challenges can lead to anger, fear or sadness, or a sense of disconnection from others and everyday experiences. I have been working with individuals struggling with OCD, obsessive thinking, impulse disorders, and comorbid anxiety and depression for 5+ years now. Together, we can work on improving physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of your life. We will figure out your best qualities, strengths, and abilities to realize your goals.
During a first session, my goal is always to create an accepting, validating, non-judgmental place to "crash" after experiencing potential invalidation, hurt, and pain from hostile environments or people. I also would like to position myself in a neutral, attentive, and open stance to your difficulties, get a better picture of your problems via a structured intake process, and allow you to explore stigma around your particular symptoms. Lastly, I would like to give the opportunity to learn about me, the goals and limits of therapy, and set a course to journey upon together.
I believe the diversity of my experiences as a therapist in numerous environments, eclectic, flexible approach, and range of psychology studies from my dual masters programs is one of my greatest strengths. I have worked worked with individuals, couples and families in several states in various settings of care, ages 5 to 75 y.o., men, women, LGBQT+, diagnosed a wide range or conditions, including severe mental health disorders, OCD, PTSD, and mood disorders. I like to approach therapy with the understanding that this process is often dynamic and unpredictable, and regularly update treatment goals or change modalities when necessary, often after conferring with peers and other specialists. It is important for me to recognize that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy may not be beneficial for a number of clients while psychodynamic, attachment based, or behavioral interventions can better suit them. Lastly, I try to embrace the balance of creating a professional, yet genuine rapport with clients, and look to identify with or place myself in the shoes of others and remain curious to respect and understand their culture and lived experiences. Respect of personal beliefs, values and differences are center to my approach and relationships as a therapist.
I don't believe I have an ideal client or single mental health disorder I treat. While my personal expertise has been in OCD, phobia, and panic disorder related exposure therapy and mood disorders such as depression and anxiety, I have also assisted clients struggling with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, substance use and sexual addictions, marital and relationship struggles, ADHD, life transitions, and chronic medical conditions. I have found that clients who have experienced their "rock bottom" in mental health challenges are most prepared to become vulnerable with others and put effort into their recovery. Additionally, I focus on follow up activities to complete, when relevant, in between-session, per my CBT training. However, I completely recognize we all can be at different places in recovery and change preparedness, and I want to meet my clients where they are without judgement, assumptions, or preconceived "correct" actions they must take to recover.
I have extensive theoretical training from my master's program and in-person practice using this method. Clients have reported good results, particularly with using thought records, challenging and reframing irrational beliefs, and behavioral planning and interventions.
I appreciate the parable opportunities ACT offers which help individuals envision methods of detaching from harmful beliefs, obsessive thinking, and processing pain, and have received feedback over the beneficial aspects of these interventions.
This is a primary method in dealing with OCD, a treatment area which I consider to be my developing specialty in practice. Many feared obsessions and compulsions are successfully treated this way.
I am learning this intervention modality gradually in work with clients with BPD, and appreciate the ability to have paradoxical beliefs successfully while learning self-soothing methods for overwhelming thoughts and feelings of abandonment.
I find that humanistic, person-centered treatment is my main philosophy in therapy. My belief and suggestion that we are all valuable despite errors and failures is usually something received well in therapy and tends to take root for clients over time, leading to improved mood and reduction in self-esteem struggles.