As a licensed therapist in both New Jersey and Washington state with over a decade of experience, I bring a wealth of expertise in supporting individuals through their struggles, traumas, and pain. Drawing from my background as a veteran and single parent, I offer a unique perspective and empathetic approach that fosters resilience and healing. With a commitment to guiding clients through their emotional journeys, I provide a safe and compassionate space for personal growth and transformation.
In the first session we will be getting to know each other. We will talk about goals and expectations, and answer any questions the client might come up with. We may talk about the process of therapy and privacy, and I may ask questions to guide the client to share about their life and their struggles. I find that focusing on building the relationship at first can be more helpful to some clients than jumping into the difficult stuff but if the client is ready I also don't shy away from that.
I believe that my greatest strengths as a therapist lie in my ability to connect with clients and empathize. My ability to create an environment that feels safe and free of judgement, and my ability to challenge perspectives,
In practice, ACT involves helping clients cultivate psychological flexibility by teaching mindfulness techniques, values clarification, and commitment to behavioral change. This often includes guiding clients to acknowledge and accept their difficult thoughts and feelings, while encouraging them to take meaningful action aligned with their values despite the discomfort they may experience. Through experiential exercises and practical tools, clients learn to build resilience and lead a more values-driven life.
In practice, existential therapy involves exploring clients' concerns about the meaning of life, freedom, responsibility, and the inevitability of death. This often includes facilitating discussions around the client's subjective experience and helping them confront existential anxieties. Through this process, clients are encouraged to take ownership of their choices, find purpose, and develop a deeper understanding of their existence, leading to a more authentic and meaningful life.
In grief therapy, the focus is on creating a supportive and empathetic environment for clients to express and process their experiences of loss. This often involves validating their emotions, facilitating discussions on the nature of grief, and assisting them in navigating the various stages of mourning. Through personalized coping strategies and narrative exploration, clients can gradually integrate the loss into their lives, fostering a sense of healing and adaptation while honoring the memory of their loved ones.
In humanistic therapy, the emphasis is on fostering a genuine and empathetic therapeutic relationship that promotes the client's self-awareness and personal growth. This often involves providing a non-judgmental and supportive space for clients to explore and understand their emotions, experiences, and behaviors. Through the facilitation of self-exploration, self-acceptance, and personal responsibility, clients are encouraged to tap into their inherent potential, cultivate a sense of authenticity, and strive toward self-actualization.
in mindfulness-based therapy, the focus is on cultivating present-moment awareness and non-judgmental acceptance of one's thoughts, emotions, and sensations. This often involves guiding clients through mindfulness practices such as meditation, body scanning, and mindful breathing to develop a deeper understanding of their internal experiences. By incorporating mindfulness techniques into daily life, clients can learn to manage stress, regulate their emotions, and foster a greater sense of overall well-being and mental clarity.