I believe that a holistic approach to mental health is the most lasting way to approach therapy. I enjoy working with individuals to explore their feelings to come to a place of acceptance and self-compassion. My areas of expertise are anxiety, depression, mood disorders, and trauma. All of us have things in our lives that didn’t cause the trauma but trigger it. I can help you overcome these triggers. I am passionate about educating people about “small t trauma” and “big T trauma,” because so often individuals don’t even recognize traumatic experiences as significant because “they could have had it worse.” "Little t traumas" are experiences that leave someone feeling hopeless. They are distressing events that can be beyond a person’s ability to cope, although they do not necessarily cause life-threatening or bodily-threatening outcomes. Some examples of "little t traumas" can include; infidelity, divorce, legal trouble, grief, interpersonal conflict, bullying, financial difficulty, chronic stress, living in an unsafe environment, or feeling unloved, worthless or unimportant. "Big T traumas" are the types of traumas that are deeply disturbing, life-threatening events or situations. some examples of these are being the witness to or victim of; violent crimes, abuse, war, natural disasters, serious car accidents, or death. Working through trauma is hard, it is often life-long, but it is worth it. I can help you live your best life, regardless of your trauma history. I am honored to work with all types of individuals. I strive to live an examined life and to continue to learn and better myself, to best impact the world around me. I know from my personal and professional experiences that we must have good habits firmly in place or bad habits will take over. I aim to educate and empower my clients within a safe, inclusive and nonjudgmental environment.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In the first session(s) with me we will discuss your concerns and history and work together to develop a plan that utilizes both of our strengths so you can get the most out of our time together. I view myself as a guide in this journey and will do my best to keep the healing process moving forward while taking time for self exploration and reflection.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I am passionate about working with individuals who are often marginalized such as individuals in the LGBTQIA+ community, in the BIPOC community, older adults, individuals with disabilities or chronic illnesses, and/or facing end-of-life concerns. I am honored to work with these individuals and their allies. While I am a cis-gendered, heterosexual white woman, I am an ally and a friend to all. I have been given feedback, that I am an accessible, inclusive and compassionate person and that having the support of an ally is empowering. Marginalized individuals and their allies often have situations and issues that are complex and layered in a way that can be especially difficult to understand by a therapist that is not self-aware and ready and willing to unlearn and relearn their own biases. I utilize a wide array of “tools” or modalities to help clients achieve their goals, including: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), mindfulness and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, Brief Solution Focused Therapy and Interpersonal Neurobiology. I am strongly rooted in Developmental Theory and Attachment Theory because I believe that these helps to explain and heal the intergenerational trauma that many people suffer from. I also utilize creative outlets and a somatic approach whenever possible.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
I am best positioned to serve clients that are ready to delve into their traumas and do the hard work to start healing. Not everyone is ready for this journey, but I will always do my best to make sure to prepare you with healthy coping skills and defense mechanisms to protect you along the way.