Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

CBT is a structured, evidence-based therapy that helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors. It involves recognizing cognitive distortions, challenging unhelpful beliefs, and practicing new coping strategies through structured exercises and real-life application. By gradually modifying thoughts and behaviors, CBT helps individuals manage anxiety, depression, OCD, and other mental health concerns, promoting long-term emotional resilience. In sessions, this approach will be done via exercises and homework assignments, as well as weekly goals setting to help maintain progress.

Dialectical Behavior (DBT)

In my practice, I incorporate Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help individuals struggling with emotional dysregulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal difficulties. DBT is particularly effective for clients dealing with anxiety, depression, borderline personality disorder, and self-destructive behaviors. The foundation of this approach lies in balancing acceptance and change—helping clients acknowledge their emotions while also developing skills to manage them effectively. I utilize mindfulness techniques to ground clients in the present moment, distress tolerance strategies to help them cope with crises, emotion regulation skills to identify and modify unhelpful emotional patterns, and interpersonal effectiveness training to enhance communication and boundary-setting. For example, a client experiencing overwhelming anxiety might practice radical acceptance by acknowledging their feelings without judgment while also using distress tolerance techniques such as grounding exercises. Another individual struggling with interpersonal conflict may benefit from structured communication strategies such as the DEAR MAN technique, which encourages assertiveness while maintaining healthy relationships. By integrating these DBT strategies into treatment, I empower clients to navigate their emotions more effectively, build resilience, and improve their overall emotional well-being. DBT is often used as an extension of, and in conjunction with, a CBT approach. This combination allows treatment to target both the psychological aspects of a client’s experiences while also providing a structured set of skills to manage distress.

Eclectic

In my practice, I take an eclectic approach to therapy, drawing from multiple evidence-based modalities to create a treatment plan tailored to each client’s unique needs. Rather than adhering strictly to one therapeutic framework, I integrate the most effective aspects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), psychodynamic principles, and somatic techniques. This flexibility allows me to adapt to each client’s personal challenges, strengths, and goals, ensuring a dynamic and individualized approach. For example, a client struggling with anxiety and rumination may benefit from CBT’s cognitive restructuring techniques to challenge negative thought patterns, while also incorporating mindfulness strategies from DBT to cultivate present-moment awareness. For individuals dealing with trauma, I may blend somatic grounding exercises with psychodynamic exploration to process unresolved emotional wounds. Someone navigating interpersonal difficulties might work on emotion regulation through DBT strategies, while also developing deeper self-awareness through reflective psychodynamic work.

Couples Counseling

In my practice, I approach couples counseling as an opportunity not only to strengthen the relationship but also to support each partner’s individual well-being. Utilizing evidence-based techniques, including the Gottman Method, I help couples improve communication, manage conflict effectively, and deepen emotional connection. By addressing negative interaction patterns, fostering mutual understanding, and rebuilding trust, couples can create a foundation of stability and intimacy that enhances both their relationship and their personal growth. The Gottman Method provides a structured approach to identifying and altering harmful relational patterns. Through interventions such as the "Four Horsemen" framework—helping couples recognize and replace criticism, defensiveness, contempt, and stonewalling with healthier alternatives—we create an environment where both partners feel heard and valued. Additionally, I integrate emotion-focused strategies to uncover underlying needs and attachment dynamics, promoting a deeper sense of connection and security. Beyond the relationship itself, couples counseling can also serve as an extension of individual therapeutic work. Relationship stress often exacerbates clinical symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and trauma-related distress, while unresolved personal struggles can negatively impact the dynamics within the partnership. By working with both partners to develop emotional regulation skills, self-awareness, and effective coping mechanisms, therapy strengthens not only the relationship but also each individual’s psychological resilience.