(she/her)
New to Grow
Enjoying life can be difficult when you're dealing with day-to-day stress, not to mention the bigger challenges you face. My role as a therapist is to support you in finding solutions for some issues and learning to regulate difficult emotions or cope with the distress of harder issues. Whether your goals are to be healthier, improve time management skills, or create better relationships, I am here to motivate and support you non-judgmentally on your journey. Together, we can also delve deeper into past or current incidents and emotional states, working to create coping strategies and increase distress tolerance over time.
In the beginning we will explore your personal reasons for choosing to participate in therapy at this time. I am client centered so you can bring whatever you need to our meetings- even the first meeting. Once we cover any pressing topics, we can discuss goals if you have some or develop goals as we go. Eventually, we will do a short history outlining your past experience with therapy (if any), we will touch on major concerning issues in your life, and discuss a starting point for you around what treatment options would be best.
I am an experienced interpersonal therapist who has done a lot of public and private agency work, putting me in contact with all types of people needing treatment at widely ranging levels of care. Currently I focus on clients that are interested in tele-health treatments but used to work in both private and public rehabs, crisis management clinics, and a PTSD center. I teach mindfulness awareness and coping skills so there are times where I may use my life as an example, helping you better understand how skills can be applied individually. I have a high client retention rate for those seeking longer term treatment and I also am happy to work within a shorter timeframe if needed for insurance or the cost of therapy. We can work together for the amount of time you need to. Finally, don't feel like you need a plan for therapy- it is ok if you show up not sure what to talk about, I can guide us in a productive direction.
I have worked with clients who are high risk and treatment resistant for many years so I am open to working with some tough cases, as long as that client is feeling ready to do the work that may be needed individually. My approach is non judgmental, leaving me free to meet people where they are at and work from there to see what their healthier path looks like. I am open minded to differing lifestyles, personal belief systems, and family structures.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
DBT is an evidence based modality designed to help grow awareness, provide psycho-education, and build coping skills. The major topics covered are Crisis Survival, Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, and Emotional Regulation- we would explore these together and decide where your needs are individually.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT is an evidence based way to recognize the patterns of our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors- to better see how they are linked and sometimes fuel one another. We would explore your behaviors/thoughts/emotions and practice Cognitive Restructuring to shift intrusive, maladaptive, and automatic patterns over time.
Trauma Informed Care
I specialize in the treatment of PTSD both acute and chronic, with over 8 years of experience working with veterans, medical professionals, and first responders- treating all levels of trauma. I am trained in trauma dynamics, a modality that evaluates your history of trauma and offers a path for processing that includes a personal history, a scale for traumatic events, and builds an understanding of trauma's impact on the body/mind. Over time we make connections, recognize cues, practice integration, and build distress tolerance with healthy coping skills for the really tough memories and losses in life.
Grief Therapy
Grief does not always get easier, sometimes it compounds. Treat the symptoms of your grief by talking to someone who not just listens, but helps you build a healthier path based on your individual needs. We will explore not only the well known 5 stages and what they mean to you, but other complex emotions like Guilt, Hopelessness, or even Relief. Treating grief is also an exploration in life, looking at the events that led up to your loss and personal experience of grief.
Jungian
I was trained in graduate school with a Jungian approach that encompassed Contemplative Psychotherapy with an emphasis in Buddhist Psychology and held a strong meditation and mindfulness based approach. If you are interested in Buddhism we could explore these topics together. I find that cultivating a meditative practice helps clients develops a stronger connection and even control over their thoughts and feelings leading to better behavioral outcomes.