LMFT, 5 years of experience
New to Grow
I work with individuals and couples struggling with issues including addiction, codependency, parenting, body image issues, self-worth issues, anxiety and depression, among others. My work is routed in a depth-psychological approach that focuses on the subconscious, and how issues that we are unaware of are sabotaging our lives. I am outgoing, warm and friendly, and working with me is like having a close friend in your corner, holding you accountable and helping you understand yourself as deeply as possible. In my previous career, I was an actor, and love working with artists of all types. I understand Hollywood and show business and the difficulties that come with creating a career out of an artistic passion. I am a mother and love working with parents who are struggling with the very real difficulties that come with the hardest job in the world. In my work with couples, I help both parties understand what it is that they truly want as individuals, and how to achieve it as a team. I am passionate about my job as a helper and a healer, and hope to be able to help guide you into becoming the best version of yourself.
The first session may feel more like an interview. I will ask questions regarding your intake forms, and any follow-up questions I might need to get to know you a little better and formulate some goals together. We will talk about your history, family, childhood experiences, why you are seeking therapy, and what you hope to get out of our work together. You can also ask me any questions you might have about the process of therapy, or anything else you may be curious about. Building trust and rapport is a process, and I recommend giving it a few weeks to really settle into our chemistry.
My clients have told me that I have a very upbeat, positive energy. I am naturally an extroverted person, which is sometimes less common in the world of therapists. Working with me is like having a close friend in your corner who you can trust will take care of you, while also helping you be honest with yourself (however hard that might be). I am straightforward and don't beat around the bush. I am pretty directive and involved in our work together. When my clients are willing to really listen and push themselves out of their comfort zones, they usually end up accomplishing everything they set out to in our work together.
I love working with people who are there to really do the hard work of therapy. That does not mean just showing up to sessions. It means taking what we talk about, and applying it to your daily life in between our sessions. Growth and change is hard work, and therapy can sometimes be painful. But no matter what your issues are, if you are willing to do the hard work to change, I will be there helping you every step of the way.
My master's training was in Jungian Analysis, and I look at my clients and cases from a Jungian, depth-oriented lense. This means that I believe there is a lot going on in the subconscious, and use tools such as imagery, dream analysis, art therapy and archetypes to explore the subconscious. Jungian analysis is adjacent to psychodynamic theory, so there is a lot of emphasis on the clients early childhood experiences and attachments, and how those feed into current symptoms and problems. I also really emphasize the therapist-client relationship as a vehicle for healing, change and growth.
I love to use ACT to help clients accept the difficulties of their lives and fully commit to actions that align with their values. This is a great way to hold yourself accountable to the life you want to build, despite the often harsh realities of life.
I naturally use EFT in couples work as well as individual therapy to really uncover what is going on at the base of all the layers of emotion we are experiencing. Often, what a client things might be anger is really pain and rejection. By peeling back the layers of areas of sensitivity, I believe a lot can be revealed about what is really going on for a client, leading to a clearer solution of how to handle it.
I use this tool a lot with individuals struggling with addiction or dependency. It is also a great treatment for people stuck in a place of ambivalence. I use motivational interview to help the client understand what it is they truly want, and reflect on how their current actions and choices are or are not aligning with those desires. This helps the client get a clearer understanding of what they want to be and should be doing instead.
I use a lot of mindfulness in my approach to clients who may be experiencing symptoms that take them outside of their body and into their heads. Mindfulness (including breath work and meditation) help the client to slow down, get back in-tune with their bodies, and become grounded. It is important to be grounded and feel safe in order to process difficult feelings and emotions. When it comes to trauma, our bodies are very much the keepers of the memories. I use mindfulness to tap into those things and learn more about where trauma may be living and how it may be manifesting.