Balancing work, personal responsibilities, relationships, and health can feel like an uphill battle! Don't even get me started on the never ending laundry basket, the appointments you haven't made yet, and the to-do list that is lost somewhere in the notebook you can't find. You might feel isolated and like no one else seems to be struggling the way you are. You might doubt that your experience is even real and have thoughts like, "maybe I am just lazy!" Maybe your relationships are suffering because your loved ones don't understand why you show up inconsistently. Maybe your self-esteem is low because you can't understand why you have been able to function really well in some areas or in some stages of life, but right now you are really struggling. Maybe you are really afraid to open up to a therapist because you have had a string of very invalidating experiences with doctors, therapists, and others you were hoping would help you. I'm Kim. I am a Licensed Clinical Social worker, trauma therapist, ADHDer, mom, serial hobbiest, and corgi lover. I am neurodiversity affirming and a safe therapist for gender and sexuality diverse folks. I have lots of experience working with people who are struggling with PTSD/C-PTSD, ADHD, parenting issues, chronic pain, and life transitions. I am all too familiar with the gifted-kid to anxious-adult pipeline. I understand that for some people, really hard things may come easily and really basic things may be very hard. I love working with people who are tired of repeating the same old cycles and are ready to make a change.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
First sessions are all about getting to know one another. You will be deciding whether or not you feel like you can be comfortable and open with me, and I will be listening to see how I can help. At the start of your session, I will briefly introduce myself, explain how confidentiality works in therapy, and will ask you if you have any questions. Then we will dive in to the important stuff like what brings you to therapy, what your interests are, who the important people are in your life, and what you are hoping to get out of therapy.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
The biggest strengths that I bring to our sessions are my authenticity and my understanding that therapy is political! Sorry for yelling there, but it is true! I have a tremendous reverence for my position of power as a therapist. I understand that my clients often come to me having been dismissed by other people who were supposed to help. I understand that seeking help is vulnerable and my clients often belong to groups of folks who have historically been mistreated in these spaces. I understand that there are many intersections of your identity and experience that impact your mental health and the care you have received. I take it seriously and I believe you. You can ask me anything you need that will help you determine whether I am a safe person to help you.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I am best suited to serve clients who are seeking a warm, curious, and down-to-Earth therapist to work alongside them towards their goals. I have extensive experience working with neurodiverse people, particularly those who have been diagnosed later-in-life or who are still seeking formal diagnosis. I have worked with loads of folks with substance use disorders, folks navigating parental estrangement, and folks with complex trauma histories. I have worked with active duty military and their families in outpatient and inpatient settings, recently incarcerated individuals, parents and folks experiencing fertility difficulty, and folks living with chronic health conditions. I love working with people who are feeling stuck and are ready to make a change, or who are feeling isolated in their experience but they are ready to try opening up to someone about it. If any of these sound like you, I want to work with you! :)
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use CBT to assist clients in exploring the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. I work collaboratively to assist clients in identifying how thought patterns may be negatively impacting their mood and hindering progress towards goals. I utilize specific CBT protocols for various diagnoses and problems, such as CBTi for insomnia or exposure response prevention for OCD.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I incorporate DBT to help clients build emotional regulation, improve interpersonal relationships, and develop healthy coping skills. DBT tools can help folks feel more in control of their lives and improve the quality of relationships.
EMDR
I use Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy to help folks process traumatic experiences and reduce the impact that those experiences have on their daily lives. EMDR is an evidence based trauma treatment that is helpful for many of my clients.
Attachment-based
I use an attachment-based approach to help folks explore how early attachment relationships are affecting their emotional well-being and may be affecting their current problem(s). Many folks find that learning more about their attachment style and patterns is very healing and helps to build healthier relationships, closer connections, and develop self-compassion.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
I work from a person-centered (Rogerian) perspective, emphasizing a non-judgmental and empathetic environment where clients feel comfortable to take the lead in their therapy. I support clients in discovering their own solutions and developing a stronger sense of self by demonstrating respect and fostering genuine connection.