Hello there! If you are reading this, I can imagine that you are maybe feeling like you are at a crossroads in your life and are not feeling 100% confident about what to do next. Do you perhaps feel like you are great at taking care of others, but not so much yourself? Are you feeling lost, overwhelmed, or generally filled with dread when you think of your potential future? Are there things in your past that you feel like you haven't been able to move forward from? Maybe, there are things going on in your present, and you just feel stuck. If any of this resonates with you, I am glad that you are here! For the last 10+ years, I have had the privilege of providing counseling and therapy services to many people just like you. I specialize in working with women and men who have experienced loss, trauma, problems with their relationships, struggles with self-esteem, and those who on the outside appear to be fine, while struggling internally with anxiety, depression, and many other mental health concerns. I am passionate about helping people discover confidence in themselves, joy in their lives, and hope for their future. Toward this end, I have dedicated my time to learning and practicing evidence-based treatment methods, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), to build a strong "toolbox" to offer my clients in overcoming whatever obstacles life may have placed in their path. If you have read this far, thank you for getting to know a little about me, and if it sounds like I may be the right fit for you, please reach out so we can get started. I hope to hear from you, but even if I don't, I wish you the very best of luck on your journey to recovery!
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
A typical first session with me will be an opportunity for you to get to know me a bit while I learn about who you are and what you are looking for in the therapy process and relationship. One of the primary goals of the first session is for us to come to an understanding of your goals for therapy and what you hope to get from the experience. Once we have established what we will work on, the following sessions will be very focused on taking concrete steps forward, which may look slightly different for each person, but it will always be my goal to ensure that your sessions are productive and meaningful toward accomplishing your goals. I believe that therapy is not meant to last forever, so we will work together to address your needs so you can confidently end therapy when you are ready.
What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?
I approach therapy from a person-centered perspective, which just means that I believe that you are the expert on your life and your experiences, and I am here as a guide and "subject matter expert" to help you along the way. I have also received specific training in the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), as well as have extensive experience working with grief, loss, childhood and adult trauma, domestic abuse and violence, as well as specialize in working with individuals with anxiety, depression, Bipolar disorder, low self-esteem, body dysmorphia, and other related mental health concerns.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
The qualities that I consider my biggest strengths as a therapist are my ability to be both empathetic and practical at the same time. I will never judge or criticize anyone for the choices they make for themselves in their lives, and at the same time, I think it is important to caringly and compassionately confront ourselves when we are not living by our own values or self-sabotaging, consciously or unconsciously. I like to use humor, when appropriate, as I have learned that laughter can be healing, but am also very comfortable sitting with you in silence if that is what you need. My goal in the work that I do is to help you find your light, whatever that looks like for you, and I know that sometimes we also just need someone who will sit with us in the dark, and I can do that too.