I am a psychotherapist with 14 years in private practice, seeing families, individuals and couples. I have dual master's degrees in both mental health counseling, and marriage and family therapy. Since 2010 I have been providing holistic care from both CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) and Jungian traditions. Holistic health is an approach to wellness that simultaneously addresses the physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual components of health. The goals include integration, stability, hope and even joy. Holistic does not mean 'alternative', yet I am experienced in adjunct healing modalities like acupuncture, nutrition and yoga. I like to collaborate treatment in a team approach for my clients when able.
In our first session, you will have the opportunity to ask me anything; about the process of psychotherapy, me, or mental health disorders. We then begin by exploring why you are seeking therapy. This is called the presenting problem. We will collect details surrounding this problem. I will also do a family tree (genogram), to best and importantly understand your family system. This allows for greater perspective of your challenges and barriers, as we identify treatment goals and objectives.
I connect easily to others and am intuitive. I have a background in the visual and performing arts and bring creativity to counseling, while maintaining distinct clinical standards. I have traveled and lived internationally and enjoy exploring diverse cultures. I treat clients struggling with issues related to transitions and adjustment like divorce, while also experienced in the treatment of chronic mental health conditions. I like a balance of left brain clinical analysis and right brain creativity, and I love learning in general.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is the foundation of counseling. Our thinking (cognition) affects our behavior, and vice-versa. Psychology is in fact, the study of behavior.
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a type of talk therapy. It's based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), yet it's specially adapted for people who feel emotions very intensely. The aim of DBT is to help you understand, accept and manage your difficult feelings through specific practices, such as mindfulness.
The thing couples worry about the most in treatment, is one partner being favored, or better understood by the therapist. In best practice however, it is the relationship itself, that becomes the client. It is relationship dynamics that are treated, not the individuals within it. This is the same for family counseling.
The treatment of grief begins with gaining understanding as to the very nature of grief itself. Some clients come to therapy with an understanding of the stages of grief, yet less so of the types of grief, including protracted and unresolved grief. Many clients come to treatment seeking treatment for anger issues or depression, which in fact are grief related at their core. Most counseling involves a degree of grief work.
Jungian therapy (or Jungian analysis as it is also known), is a psychoanalytic approach that was developed psychotherapist, Carl Gustav Jung in the early 20th century. Along with Freud, Jung is considered one of the pioneers of modern depth psychology, particularly of the unconscious mind. Through self-observation of our behaviors, our spirit and through dreams, the aim is to make the unconscious, conscious. Part of jungian therapy is popularly known as shadow, or inner child work. Jung makes use of archetypes, such as the wise woman; According to Jungian psychology, archetypes form a common foundation for the experiences of all humans. Each individual builds their own experiences on top of this foundation, influenced by their unique culture, personality, and life events.