(she/her)
Welcome, and thank you for trusting me to be part of and facilitate you on your journey, whatever that looks like for you! Investing in yourself is a brave and powerful decision, kudos to you for initiating steps towards change. I will work WITH you, and toward YOUR goals in a judgment-free atmosphere. I have worked in an array of settings with different populations, individuals, in groups and families. I specialize in codependency, addictions, family dysfunction and problems, depression and anxiety, low self esteem and trauma. I believe in direct communication and transparency (non-beating-around-the-bush approach) with warmth and genuineness. I am not afraid to think outside the box to help you achieve whatever change(s) you desire. Without pain, we would not make steps toward change and we would remain still. I look forward to working with you!
Rapport with you is so important; establishing a positive, trusting one, is vital. We'll identify your goals, what has worked or not worked in the past, and even if you don't know what change looks like for you, that's okay too! I'll gather information of relative information or anything you'd like me to know. If you want to jump right in, we can start a plan for treatment and I can provide psycho-education for different modalities.
Validation, meeting you where YOU ARE. I have years of experience with addictions, codependency and relationships, facilitating gaining insight as to why we manifest certain behaviors that cause issues in your current day to day (or night). I will not ever tell you what your goals should be, or what to do- the answers are within YOU and I help you find them as an objective yet supportive outsider, weaving through fears and patterns appropriately. I am also EMDR trained and well versed in Motivational Interviewing. Sometimes, talk therapy isn't sufficient. If you break your leg and the bone needs placed, no amount of physical therapy can heal it. I'd compare EMDR to placing the bone (memories are often stored or stuck in the body). I also am a big component of empowering you to speak confidently in your truth and often implement assertiveness training in sessions clients have reported to very beneficial.
Even if you don't know what direction, goals, or outcome you can identify now, that's very okay. Change is constant and so are our goals. Ideally, honesty and willingness go a long way and only benefit you, but sometimes we also believe what we tell ourselves to maintain what is familiar. If your needs are outside the scope of my experience and/or you need a different level of care, I will help coordinate appropriately. Concerns and problems I am most seasoned with are Substance Use Disorders and addictions/compulsive behaviors, codependency and relationships, trauma/PTSD, family of origin issues, depression, anxiety, low self esteem, anger & resentment, existential problems, adjustment problems or life changes, marital and family dysfunction and problems.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
Identifying what is in our power to control, or not is a big difference in how we sort and find solutions. Radical acceptance does not mean that we agree with situations or the reality of something, but we can learn to deal with how it affects us and what we put our efforts in to.
EMDR
DAS and bilateral lobe stimulation for processing trauma and difficult experiences, resistant depression, reframing negative beliefs about oneself and events and/or others.
Motivational Interviewing
To identify the stage of change and start there. Often, a lot of people say "I want to WANT to stop ____". This honesty is valuable and this methodology meets you at your current change threshold, and helps gain awareness between discrepancies and perceived consequences/costs (or lack there of) with problem behaviors, substances and/or situations that are difficult to change.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Thoughts create feelings, feelings drive behaviors. We have core beliefs, often maladaptive ones, driving our thoughts, feelings and behaviors (or reasons why we come to therapy). Getting to the negative cognitions and reframing them in a way and changes in responses to create different and meaningful connections has very effective outcomes. Implementation of action between sessions is typical (for example, saying "no" if you find yourself often pleasing others in your natural environment outside the office).