(she/her)
New to Grow
I work with adults, teens, transition age youth, and their families. I help them manage anxiety, depression, trauma, and behavioral concerns. This includes high achievers struggling with perfectionism/anxiety, depressed clients where brushing their teeth in the morning was a success, those going through or post a divorce, families who are struggling to get along or function, and anyone experiencing a change in life that causes stress. It is my aim to help clients understand both themselves and their relationships more fully. I use a variety of tools, including CBT, Narrative Therapy, humanistic/client focused, and family systems to cater to individual needs. I have a deep respect for the phases of our lives that bring significant transition, recognizing that these can bring enormous challenge, and also the opportunity for deep and lasting growth. I've journeyed with clients through intense trauma, and shared their joys as they learn to integrate their stories and own their strengths. It's important to me to meet people where they are, to listen, help them define their own goals, and grow their unique strengths.
First sessions can feel a little strange sometimes--almost interviewy--as I'm getting to know you, introducing myself and going over legal and ethical information to make sure you're informed about treatment. Unlike an interview, I approach this all with warmth and curiosity (no judgement) and I also make sure you walk away with something in first session to help with whatever is bringing you into therapy. Sessions after that first one will be less me probing, and more collaborative work toward goals, building skills, ways to think about yourself!
I am able to combine open curiosity, compassion and validation with targeted guidance, gentle challenging and collaboration in moving toward change. Having a safe space is important AND that's not all that therapy is---I want to create that safe space in order to hold discomfort in change (because even if it's good work, it's uncomfortable) and acknowledge when you're doing the hard work and small shifts along the way.
I love working with clients who are in the midst of transition--part of why I work with young people largely, because they're in it almost constantly (and so are their parents). That being said, defining self in new phases of life is hard at any age and stage and working to navigate an ever shifting world is challenging. Discomfort because of this presents often as mental health and relational challenges, and I work to address this with a combination of practical guidance with strategies and person-centered self understanding through an age-and-stage appropriate eclectic approach.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Best for short form work, anxiety and building skills toward examining thoughts and shifting underlying assumptions alongside behavioral activation.
Attachment-based
As a systems thinker (MFT) we are never in isolation, from birth on we are with others and understanding how our relationships grow and function is a critical part of creating a healthy life
Eclectic
Meeting clients where they are is important. I was trained under a "Common Factors" researcher, and most therapy uses different language or strategies to really treat the same things (sense of self, relation to others and the world around us). I make it my practice to understand my clients and choose the best modality to match their needs.