LCSW, 7 years of experience
The burnout is real. You have so much to do, but you just don’t have the energy. Your mind is SO busy and SO loud. Sometimes you can get it together, but at the expense of your health. You clean the the entire garage! Or you work on that project so long that by the time you stop, you realize you haven’t eaten in five hours, your head hurts, and your bladder is about to explode. All of this and how the heck do you even find a therapist that you can feel safe with? This is a lot. The world is a lot. Therapy is a lot. Therapy is vulnerable. I get it! I understand. 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, 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.
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 gain from therapy. I will ask you some history questions and we will begin discussing a treatment plan together.
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.
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 a special interest in women’s issues and enjoy working with women from all walks of life who are looking to learn more about themselves, break generational cycles, set boundaries, say "no," and embrace their authentic selves 😊 I have worked with military folks and their families for many years. I am familiar with military culture and the unique challenges that come with military life.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.