New to Grow
I am a trauma informed therapist, integrating CBT, IFS, mindfulness and somatic work. I work with adult individuals struggling with self-doubt, anxiety, relationship struggles and more. In a calm, compassionate environment, I will guide you in self-reflection. I provide a supportive, validating and non-judgmental environment, where all emotions are welcome. I believe honoring the impact of our experience is essential for healing. We will use traditional talk therapy, along with mindfulness and somatic work to practice slowing down and leaning into our feelings.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
Our first session will consist of an intake questionnaire. We will review policies and procedures, confirm scheduling and gather background information such as medical history and family history. We will also discuss what your goals are for treatment and what steps we will take in therapy in order to move you closer to those goals.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
I started my social work career in child welfare, working with different families dealing with an array of struggles, including substance abuse, domestic violence, mental health issues, and generational trauma. Having the opportunity to speak and connect with so many unique individuals, I realized how much childhood upbringing and other past experiences truly impact future thoughts and behaviors. This led me to work toward my license and, in 2018, I became a licensed clinical social worker. In 2020, I began my journey as an individual therapist. My approach is unique because I will encourage you to dig deep into your past to understand how certain things impact you now. I will help you identify your feelings, and I will hold the space for you to sit with those feelings, including those that are generally considered unpleasant. This can be hard to do, but I will be there with you. I believe sitting with your feelings and not running from them is essential. I value self-compassion and communication. This means that my goal is to help you understand yourself better. What are you feeling and why? Where do your feelings come from? If you can better understand your thoughts and feelings, then you can be more honest, caring, and compassionate with yourself, moving you along your healing journey.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
Do you feel sad or unmotivated, wondering why everyone else seems to have it together? Or do you find yourself overworked, taking on too much, hesitant to set boundaries or say no? Or perhaps, you find yourselves in situations that drain you, and you say to yourself, "why do I keep doing that?" I see adults coping with anxiety, depression, relationship challenges and phase of life struggles. Many have experienced trauma; they have been carrying too much for too long. We will examine your past experiences and explore how those past experiences impact your thoughts, feelings and behaviors. We will use compassion and curiosity to explore how you have been coping and dealing with it for so long. Once we understand, we work together to build your inner strength and wisdom, challenge that which no longer serves you and increase self-compassion and confidence. If your goal is to explore your past and figure out why you do, feel and think certain things, I am here to help you. If your goal is to feel better about yourself, learn to set boundaries or improve relationships, I am here to help you. I believe sitting with your feelings is essential for growth and wellness. I know this can be scary, so I am here to listen, provide support and help guide you along the way. You are not alone. You will be supported. Therapy is a partnership, and we will work together.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Just because you think it, does not mean it's true. Together, we will examine the thoughts that come in your head. We will assess their validity and help you to gracefully question and explore those automatic thoughts.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Our past experiences show up in how we think, feel and behave as our current selves. With IFS, we can examine the parts of us that motivate certain thoughts and behaviors. We will explore these parts with compassion and curiosity to learn more about their origins and intentions.
Psychodynamic
Sometimes we don't understand where certain behaviors come from. They are unconscious patterns we repeat without even thinking about it. Through psychodynamic interventions, we explore those behaviors and thought patterns by examining past experiences and bringing those unconscious patterns to light.
Trauma Informed Care
Most people have experienced trauma in their life. I have training in trauma informed care, which means that we won't look at "what is wrong" rather, we will focus on "what has happened in your life." I recognize the long-term effects of the trauma experience and that trauma does not only include large scale issues, rather, trauma also includes small violations that occur for too long and leave a lasting impact. Together we work to understand the impact of your past experiences and empower you on your healing journey.