(she/her)
New to Grow
Welcome. I am happy you have decided to look for support and you should be proud of that it is a big step and takes a lot of courage. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and former Emergency Medical Technician. I work with most populations but have specific interest in supporting individuals who are neurodivergent (ADHD, Autism, ETC.), individuals who are or were first responders or military and individuals going through fertility struggles, perinatal mental health and postpartum mental health for parents of any gender.
First sessions can definitely feel stressful and that is completely normal. In our first session it will consist of a lot of questions so that I can get your history and information on different areas of your life that can have an influence on your mental health. Information is always helpful but it is up to you how much you are comfortable providing at our first meeting, you are always welcome to tell me you do not want to talk about something or answer a question. After this it will focus on the plan for you and us collaborating to make a plan to help you get to your goals.
I think my greatest strength is that I do not believe in a one size fits all approach and view things in a person centered way that allows for addressing the barriers and patterns preventing people from reaching their goals.
I am happy to work with individuals who are interested and open to therapy and the potential for it to make a positive difference in their lives. I take a personalized approach to help with each individuals unique barriers and stressors to help them overcome them to meet their goals and improve their quality of life. I am also happy working with people who have struggled with therapy in the past and are looking to try again. I strive to create a safe space and welcome feedback on things that are not working so we can adjust the plan and find what works best for you.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a method I used frequently in my practice. Helping to work with individuals on how their thoughts, feelings and behaviors connect allows a better understanding on how to interrupt patterns that are no longer serving the person. I frequently use thought challenging and reframing as tools to manage negative, critical or unwanted thought patterns and help people find freedom from these cycles of thinking, which can lead to improvements in feelings and behaviors as well.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy is a favorite method of mine for emotion regulation and being able to use skills such as grounding with senses to help regulate emotions, focus on responding instead of reacting and improve interpersonal communication.
Trauma Informed Care
Creating a safe space is a priority in my practice. Using trauma informed care in all the work that I do is a huge piece of how I create this environment. Trauma impacts parts of our lives we may not realize and the impacts of it ebb and flow over time. I have found that being trauma informed and aware of how it can impact all areas of life allows for an environment and practice that can focus on empowering the individual and meeting them where they are at to help support them in moving through the traumas of their past to a future they create.
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing is a key part of my practice. Using this communication style to help individuals reflect on their stressors and identify barriers and address them to help create meaningful and sustainable change is something that has beneficial in many different contexts. I also like that this approach is person-centered and empowers the individual to identify issues and problem solve while providing support throughout the process.
Psychoeducation
In practice I have found that understanding why you are stuck in the pattern's you are is one of the first steps to being able to change those patterns and get unstuck. I use Psychoeducation often to help individuals better understand why they think, feel and behave how they do, where those patterns may have started and how to begin to shift them and create new patterns that serve you in the present.