LCSW-C, 12 years of experience
I am a human (aka: not perfect), a mom, a wife, a dog and cat lover, sport enthusiast, and I am always dreaming of my next vacation or a project to work on my house. I became a therapist because therapy worked for me. I am an empathic therapist with over ten years of experience. I will offer a safe space for you to be your authentic self in a judgement free zone. After all, I didn't become a therapist without going through tough times myself. I am down to earth, collaborative and utilize humor when fitting.
The first session is all about collecting history and discussing the presenting issue or what made you come to therapy. The goal would be to collaboratively identify what we will be working on together. I also like to review how I operate in sessions and open the opportunity for you to ask any questions or address any concerns. This session can be nerve racking, especially if it is your first time; however, my job is to help calm those nerves and make this step smooth as possible.
My approach to therapy is rooted in the belief that who you are makes sense. Even when your emotions, behaviors, or relationships are extremely different than what you want them to be. I believe that our feelings carry wisdom, our behaviors serve a function, and our current situation becomes clear in the context of our whole story. With this stance of curiosity and acceptance, I can help you understand the parts of your life that are causing distress and move toward the life you want to be living. I am an ideal fit for clients who want to make a change in their behavior while understanding the way those behaviors have functioned. My clients feedback to me about my strengths are "trustworthy" ,"empathetic" ,"transparent" , "comfortable environment" , "collaborative" and "laid back but willing to challenge me."
I believe in the power of the therapeutic relationship and meeting individuals where they are, but also challenging you when appropriate. I will approach you and your story with empathy, curiosity, and kindness while also providing realistic support and engagement. Clients who are successful with me are engaged, open, honest, and wants to gain insight into themselves. I believe clients should be willing to be challenged and the work that we do together should also be implemented outside of sessions.
I use a wide rang of interventions in my sessions. I don't believe in a one way approach. I depends on what the issue or topic is, who the person is, your background, and goal. From there I assess what intervention to use. Some examples of frequent modalities I use are: CBT, ACT, psychodynamic, EFT, solution-focused, interpersonal, Gottman, Motivational, and Family therapy techniques.