New to Grow
Welcome! I'm Carter (they/them), and it's wonderful to meet you. Therapy is a huge step for some people, and I appreciate your vulnerability in looking for the provider that works best for you. The beginning can be challenging, and even a little awkward as you explore your new or growing relationship to therapy and yourself. In my practice, I prioritize connection, honesty, and mutual understanding throughout our time together. Working predominantly with teenagers, I know feeling that you can be your authentic self in sessions is a must, and I strive to allow our space to be a place where someone can be themselves. I like to focus on your values, needs, and goals within our work, and ways to find our authentic selves and relationships as we grow. Social landscapes can be especially challenging for teens and young adults, and as a provider, I work to find ways to facilitate open and honest dialogues between you and myself, and transferring those skills to the world outside our sessions.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
Our first session is paced however you feel most comfortable. I typically like to ask about what brought us to therapy, but I am flexible to utilize creativity and playfulness in our sessions as it works for you.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
I like to lean into creativity, direct communication, and even some silliness in our sessions (as it feels good for each individual). I aim to make spaces nonjudgemental, and to find the feeling behind any behavior without shame or blame.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
My approach is predominantly person-centered in my desire to reflect my client's needs and best understand their personal experiences and motivations to be their most authentic self.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
As a therapist, I am oriented towards my client's values, and structuring therapy around what my client values in their life. I approach all coping strategies with a nonjudgmental stance, with a desire to identify the function of the behavior, and the benefits and detriments to the strategies as we move toward our values.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
As a therapist, I like to use a DBT approach to manage what we can and cannot change. I emphasize an acceptance toward our experiences and the ways they may impact our ability to regulate ourselves, our relationships, and our current functioning. Simultaneously, I always aim to find a place of distress tolerance toward what we cannot change, and interpersonal effectiveness to communicate through our challenges.