IMFT, 5 years of experience
New to Grow
As a relational therapist, I help adults who are looking to strengthen their connections, increase their intimacy, and improve their communication and relationships with others. It is common to get stuck in patterns that don’t serve us. As a therapist trained in systemic therapy, I help people identify and break their dysfunctional patterns to improve the quality of their relationships and interactions with others. I also enjoy helping people work through various issues such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, changing habits, and managing stress (to name a few). Most of us struggle with some or all of these at some point in our lives, and it can be hard to be objective and see things clearly. As a neutral and objective party, I can offer a different perspective and help you to navigate your way through some of life's challenges together.
Our first session is called an intake session and is not reflective of what therapy looks like moving forward. We will review the paperwork you signed online, policies, laws, and expectations. I may ask for elaboration on some of the answers on your intake form that stood out to me. That being said, we are still new to each other at this point, so if you are not comfortable answering certain questions - that is fine! We will establish some preliminary goals to work on in therapy which can be changed at any time depending on what feels most pressing to you. You will get the chance to ask me any questions and we can decide if the fit feels right to move forward.
While working with and helping others has always been my passion, therapy is not my first profession. Over the past twenty years, I have had the pleasure of working in a variety of fields, which I feel has been an asset when it comes to understanding and connecting with others. I have worked with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, people experiencing homelessness and poverty, people with substance use disorders, people with HIV, college students, and job seekers. I truly care about the people I have the privilege to work with. You will find that I am open, non-judgmental, and sincere. I take an authentic approach and you can always expect an honest response.
I ask that you come to therapy with an open mind and willingness to put in some effort. I find that therapy is not a passive experience; we get out what we put in. Everyone moves at a different pace. We can take this journey slow, or dive right in!
When we internalize our thoughts (cognitions) as true, it affects how we feel. How we feel affects how we respond (behaviors). It's important to challenge our thoughts (and messages directed at us by others) at times to ensure we aren't being influenced by irrational thoughts, or messages that are unlikely to be true.
I do not assume to know you better than you know yourself. I will use my tools and training and apply them to YOUR goals, not mine. You are in the driver's seat and I will be your guide.
It is helpful to understand our past to know what is and isn't working, but we will be focusing on how to get you to your goals instead of focusing the majority of time and energy on the past, which cannot be changed.