(she/her)
New to Grow
Makenzi earned her master’s and doctorate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Touro University. With a background in theatre, she brings a unique ability to create a safe and supportive environment grounded in authenticity, storytelling, and empathy. Makenzi specializes in working with adolescents, families, and couples on issues that may include trauma, abuse, infidelity, and developmental disabilities. Makenzi is highly trained in The Gottman Method, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Sand Tray Therapy, and Yoga Therapy, offering a versatile and compassionate approach to healing and growth.
In our first session, my goal is to create a space where you feel comfortable, heard, and respected. We’ll begin by talking about what’s bringing you to therapy and what you’re hoping to get out of our work together. I’ll ask some questions to better understand your history, current challenges, and any important relationships or life contexts that may be shaping your experience. This session is also an opportunity for you to get a feel for my style and approach. We’ll also discuss your goals for therapy and begin to identify what meaningful progress might look like for you. I’ll answer any questions you have about the process, and together we’ll start shaping a direction for our work. Most importantly, the first session is about building trust and laying the foundation for a supportive and effective therapeutic relationship.
One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is my ability to help clients access and express their inner experiences in ways that feel authentic, embodied, and meaningful. With a background in theatre and storytelling, I bring a deep appreciation for narrative, emotion, and the power of lived experience into the therapy room. I help clients not only understand their stories but also feel and reshape them in real time.
My ideal clients are individuals, couples, and families who are seeking bigger, more meaningful change and not just symptom relief, but a greater sense of connection to themselves and others. I am especially well-positioned to work with clients navigating anxiety, trauma, relational distress, and life transitions, particularly those who feel “stuck” in recurring emotional or relational patterns. My ideal clients are those who are open, reflective, and willing to engage in both internal and relational work. They don’t need to have everything figured out, but they are ready to explore, experiment, and move toward greater alignment, resilience, and connection.
Experiential Therapy
In my work, I draw from experiential models, integrating them with body-based practices. This allows clients to move beyond intellectualizing their experiences and instead engage with emotions as they arise in the present moment. For example, I may guide clients through mindfulness or breathwork exercises to increase awareness of physiological responses, or incorporate gentle movement and grounding techniques inspired by yoga therapy to support emotional regulation and embodiment.
Somatic
By integrating somatic awareness with relational and mindfulness-based approaches, I aim to support clients in developing a deeper sense of safety, connection, and resilience within themselves and in their relationships. For example, I may guide clients in orienting exercises, grounding techniques, or gentle movement to help regulate activation and increase a sense of safety in the body. I often incorporate breath awareness and body scans to support interoception, allowing clients to recognize patterns such as constriction, dissociation, or hyperarousal. This is particularly beneficial for clients who struggle to verbalize their experiences or who have become disconnected from their bodies due to trauma.
Structural Family Therapy
Drawing from Structural Family Therapy, I conceptualize problems as emerging from patterns within the family system rather than from any one individual. I use structural family therapy to create clearer, more functional relationships that support both individual well-being and systemic balance.