In our first session together, here's what you can expect

During the first session, I begin by creating a calm, welcoming environment where the client feels safe and respected. I explain my role and what therapy with me typically looks like, emphasizing that our work is collaborative and paced according to their comfort level. I acknowledge that starting therapy can feel intimidating and normalize any uncertainty they may be experiencing. I invite the client to share what brought them to therapy and what they are hoping will feel different in their life. As they speak, I listen closely for patterns related to trauma, attachment, and relational dynamics, while also attending to their emotional regulation and level of distress. I reflect back their experiences to help them feel seen and understood, validating the impact of past and present stressors without rushing into problem-solving. I ask gentle, open-ended questions about their relationships, family history, and any significant life transitions such as divorce, co-parenting challenges, or relational conflict. If trauma is present, I provide reassurance that we will not dive into painful details before they feel ready. I explain that my approach is trauma-informed and that safety and stabilization come first. I offer a brief overview of how attachment-based therapy and EMDR may be used in our work, describing these approaches in accessible language. I assess coping strategies, current supports, and emotional regulation skills, and we may practice a simple grounding exercise to establish a sense of containment. Before closing, we collaboratively identify initial goals and discuss what success in therapy might look like. I ensure the client leaves feeling grounded, supported, and clear about next steps, reinforcing that therapy is a process and that healing happens within a secure, trusting relationship built over time.

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

My therapeutic strengths include creating a safe, attuned environment where clients feel seen, understood, and emotionally supported. I bring a trauma-informed, attachment-based lens to my work, allowing me to effectively address how past experiences shape current emotions and relationships. With extensive experience and EMDR training, I am skilled at helping clients process trauma at a pace that promotes stability, healing, and lasting change.

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

My ideal client is someone who feels emotionally overwhelmed, stuck in painful patterns, or impacted by past or ongoing relational trauma. Many of the individuals, couples, and families I work with are navigating the effects of divorce, co-parenting challenges, attachment wounds, or unresolved trauma that continues to shape their relationships, emotions, and sense of self. They may struggle with anxiety, depression, or feeling disconnected—from themselves or from the people they care about. Ideal clients are often those who recognize that their reactions, relational conflicts, or emotional pain have deeper roots and are open to exploring how early experiences and trauma influence their present-day lives. They may feel exhausted from trying to “push through” or manage on their own and are ready for a more intentional, healing-focused approach. While they may feel unsure or apprehensive at first, they value a therapeutic relationship built on safety, trust, and genuine understanding. I work well with clients who are motivated to engage in therapy at a pace that feels respectful and supportive, even when the work feels challenging. This includes individuals seeking trauma-informed care, couples wanting to strengthen emotional connection and communication, and families striving to create healthier relational dynamics. Clients who benefit most are willing to develop insight, practice new skills, and gently confront painful experiences with support. My ideal client values culturally responsive care and appreciates a therapist who honors their lived experience without judgment. Together, we focus on healing trauma, strengthening emotional regulation, and fostering resilience so clients can move forward with greater clarity, security, and connection.