I have been counseling professionally for over 13 years. I have been honored to have witnessed the healing that takes place in the context of that confidential and therapeutic interaction. I strive to help people to become more self aware and better equipped to deal with the challenges life throws their way. I assist in decreasing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Psychotherapy navigates life’s transitions and cultivates better relationships. It provides tools to manage intense emotions and to disengage from ruminating thoughts. It utilizes motivational strategies to guide those who are stuck in unhealthy behavioral patterns—easing them down the paths of acceptance and decision making in order to make the changes they want or need to make. Therapy lends to insight; to embracing, finally, your own intrinsic worth and to living a satisfying and content life. I am no stranger to emotional pain. My journey has consisted of getting my own therapy. I, myself, have found value and healing along the way, not only in traditional therapy like CBT and psychodynamics but also in Eastern Philosophies, such as those found in Mindfulness and Buddhist Psychology. DBT contains many of these principles, which is why it informs most of my therapy work with clients. I practice regularly: Knowing the differences between suffering and pain; between grasping and healthy attachment; between aversion and healthy avoidance; between denial and self protection, which all have helped & continue to help me radically accept life as it is while seeking to understand what is possible.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
Firstly, you can expect me to create a safe nonjudgmental space—a space where you can feel heard and cared about. In our 1st session we’ll start with brief introductions. We’ll discuss specifics issues and challenges that brought you to counseling. I’ll want to assess you for depression and anxiety. I’ll ask you: In your heart of hearts what do you long for? Then together we will develop a Treatment Plan to address how we can decrease painful symptoms; what your short and long term goals are, and we’ll discuss the frequency and duration of your therapy journey.
What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?
My approach to therapy is multi-faceted. It is informed by Cognitive Behavioral & Dialectical Behavior Therapies, but I have also been trained in other evidenced based treatments, such as, (ACT)-Acceptance Commitment Therapy, IFS-(Internal Family Systems), and EFT-(Emotion Focused Therapy). When connecting with a client, I use a lot of Mindfulness-Based principles. I respect every client’s uniqueness and use the therapies that work best for each one.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I am grounded in CBT and I have had comprehensive training in Marsha Linehan’s model of DBT. I have worked on DBT Teams and have led DBT Skills Groups and am an expert in teaching the DBT Skills of Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation & Interpersonal Effectiveness and can include that within individual therapy sessions. DBT Skills are often a wonderful prelude to trauma work, because clients learn how to manage painful/distressing emotions, while feeling more present and better equipped to manage relationships. I specialize in treating Anxiety, Panic Disorder OCD and depression.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
Adults ages 18 and up Older Adults over 65 Those who desire to learn ways to cope with distress, improve relationships, and/or manage painful emotions. Those who wonder how some people seem able to cope so well with difficult situations. Every human being has either dealt with or will deal with difficulty. And, while It is unlikely that human beings will get everything they want, it is possible to achieve the strategies and skills to change perspectives and outlooks on life, which so often are what help us to achieve our goals. “It takes two”, as the song says, to get the most from counseling/psychotherapy. I humbly admit that good therapy happens when therapist and client are a good fit, because it is a working relationship that requires dedication from both. When the fit is good and therapist and client are both dedicated to the therapy, healing happens.