I am a therapist that shows up in session as my full self, finding the balance between informal and honest while also maintaining professionalism and accomplishing goals. I let the client lead, and very much am committed to the philosophy that the client is the expert on their own life. I hold two masters in counseling-related fields and have worked with college students and young adults for fifiteen years before transitioning to military veterans and trauma clients. I have experienced infidelity in my own marriage that would eventually end it, and have done my own work to summit through trauma and grief. I'm a big believer that our pain shapes us and can be a conduit for growth if we let it. I approach therapy without a fixed approach, and rather look for ways to uniquely tailor modalities and interventions to the client's specific needs. I place a ton of value on the therapist-client relationship and don't ever want clients to dread therapy, but rather view it as a continuous safe space to be vulnerable without judgment and to make progress at their own pace. I recognize that fit is SO important, and fully affirm clients being intentional however they need to when picking a therapist.
First four sessions typically are a lot of info gathering. It usually takes at least four sessions to for me to get a solid foundation with a client, to fully understand what the client goals are for therapy, to get the back story, and to get an idea of client expectations/needs. I am structured in my approach, but can pivot and adapt quickly if something isn't working. I am committed to showing up fully engaged and ready to maximize our time and to jump right in. I make sure to communicate with clients when needed, and prioritize accessibility.
I am a fairly high-energy person with an expressive face. I try extremely hard to keep it neutral, but sometimes my jaw will drop if a client tells me something really wild. I do lean more direct but not combative, I will be honest while being tactful. My clients do tend to feel connected to me early on in our work together, and I'm genuinely excited to jump in and get to work. I am all-in with clients, so it's really important to me to work with clients who actually want to embrace the therapeutic process.
I have worked with college-aged clients for almost 15 years and the last three years at a trauma-practice serving dominantly military and veterans. I love working with men and women individually, and couples in couple's therapy. I thrive with clients who are deep-diving into past family trauma, boundary-setting, and empowering clients to try something new/different for their betterment. I look for clients who are ready to do the work, who are open to delving into things and places that are uncomfortable, while pushing themselves to grow. I appreciate clients who don't give up, who don't put unrealistic expectations on me or themselves that one session will fix everything, and are willing to move through the therapeutic process with openness and curiosity.
Other specialties
I identify as
Attachment-based
I am a huge proponent of attachment based therapy given that so much of clients' issues and and presenting problems stem from the past and/or past patterns, ie how clients were raised, an impactful event from childhood, etc. Even if we don't stay there long, I usually like to trace presenting problems back to their origins.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I consider cognitive behavioral therapy a baseline modality. This tends to resonate with clients who need help balancing emotions with logic, to reality test, and to effectively reflect and identify their own feelings and insights while setting realistic expectations of themselves and others. I find CBT interventions to be incredibly helpful in practice.
EMDR
I am fully EMDR-trained and in process of final certification to be EMDR-certified through EMDRIA (EMDR International Association). I have previously worked at a trauma practice out of Los Angeles with veterans for 2.5 years, where trauma informed practice was a requirement, and EMDR was an incredibly helpful tool for reprocessing traumatic memories.
Gottman method
I also am extremely excited to work with couples. I have most often worked with couples experiencing infidelity, having marital or relationship issues, or just overall want to do a check-up on their romantic relationship. Gottman method is research-backed, and I deeply appreciate the practicality around Gottman interventions that allow couples to work on improving communication, rebuilding their relationship, and work through conflicts in a healthier way.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
Solution-focused therapy feels most beneficial for clients who come in to therapy knowing exactly what their goals are and are ready to get to work. I appreciate utilizing solution-focused treatment because it allows the client to get to the root of the quickly, while spending more time on practical solutions that will get them closer to their ideal daily lives.