New to Grow
My therapy journey began with a passion to serve underserved people, particularly those struggling with mental illness and lacking resources. This grew into a passion to impact systems serving individuals with mental health issues, trauma, and substance use. I am now refocusing my time on individuals rather than systems. I take a client-centered and collaborative approach to therapy. It can be scary to allow someone into your struggle, and many of us have good reason not to trust others. Starting therapy takes courage, and I congratulate you on taking this step. I take seriously the responsibility of partnering with you and respecting your vulnerability.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
Our first session will be an opportunity for us to get to know you and for you to tell your story. We'll discuss your background and what brings you to therapy. It's completely normal to feel nervous about your first appointment. We'll take it one step at a time, and I'm here to guide you through each step of the process.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
I respect and honor that you are allowing me to join your journey, and I want to make sure this time together is meaningful to you. I take time to hear your story and tailor each session to your unique needs and goals. I provide a safe and supportive environment where you can be yourself. I'm also not afraid to give difficult feedback. I'll combine empathy, understanding, and practical tools to help you understand barriers keeping you from the life you're created for and build confidence. I use Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy to help you identify and reshape unhelpful thought patterns. I may also provide Dialectic Behavioral Therapy, giving you hands-on tools like mindfulness.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
If you've experienced struggle, hurt, conflict, pain, trauma, abuse, or addictions, I want to partner with you in your recovery. Life can feel overwhelming and too much at times. We all need someone to join us in wrestling with our struggles. I want to help you overcome and take back your life. I work with adults struggling with anxiety, depression, and trauma. I have experience with past abuse, addictions, criminal justice involvement, Veterans, Child Protective Services involvement, and bipolar disorder. If you're working through a challenge or setback, I want to provide a safe place to talk without judgment.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
This is often a preferred treatment for depression, anxiety, and self esteem. With CBT I will explain the power of our thoughts and how we may have automatic thoughts that hold us back. We will work together to capture those thoughts, and learn how to retrain the brain to better equip us for success.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
This is often a preferred treatment for anxiety, trauma, and Borderline personality disorder. We will begin by understanding how anxiety, trauma, and life experiences effect our brains and bodies as well as our perceptions of the world around us and our relationships. DBT teaches ways to manage the anxiety response in our bodies and brains, settle our nervous system, and how to combat the long-term effects on our lives. We often learn in DBT how to be more mindful and situationally aware.
Cognitive Processing (CPT)
CPT is a trauma specific approach. It focus on a specific traumatic event, how that event has effected the way we perceive and interpret the world around us, and to combat those perceptions and interpretations.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
The underlying philosophy of ACT is that we make life harder for ourselves when we do not accept that which we cannot change and act as if it did not exist. With ACT we will explore how we can accept certain things about ourselves and our lives and therefore free up energy to learn to respond to them differently so they may not have so much power of us and our lives.
Faith based therapy
It is my belief that we as humans are physical, emotional, and spiritual beings and we have needs in all three areas. It is also my belief that our faith, spiritual, or religious beliefs affect how we feel, think, and interact with others and the world around us. Spiritual practices can be tools to help us heal. As a therapist, I am open to exploring each clients level of interest in further leaning into faith/ spiritual beliefs and practices.