Thank you for taking the time to take a look at my profile! Therapy should be uniquely tailored to each person. I work with clients to identify patterns of behavior that may have contributed to difficulties in relationships—with family, friends, or at work or school—and help find ways to create positive change. We learn to change our perspective on life, our past, our entire reality, and recognize that we really can control how we think and what we think about. One of the primary purposes of coming to therapy is to be heard. I am here to listen and work with you to come up with a solution to the problem or issues you may be having. I've worked with many clients coping with anxiety and depression, in particular, which has led to the development of a different approach that combines parts of a few different proven techniques. This approach is designed to change your perspective on your mental illness and learn new ways to cope, adjust, and adapt. We work together to find what works! Personally, I have been managing numerous forms of anxiety (including, at times, OCD and PTSD), depression, and bipolar II disorder since my early teen years, with about a decade battling addiction. Thankfully, I had the support of my family, my wife, my two daughters, and our multiple rescue pups. They're all the motivation and inspiration I need!
Meeting someone new for the first time can sometimes feel a bit nerve-wracking, especially when discussing sensitive topics. During our initial sessions, we'll take things slowly, allowing us to get to know each other and explore why you're reaching out for help. I'll follow your lead, making sure you feel safe and comfortable enough to open up at your own pace.
I'm a compassionate and understanding listener who takes a relaxed approach to therapy. I've been managing depression and anxiety since I was a child, and I sometimes share how my experiences relate to a client's current situation.
People decide to take the step and try (or continue) therapy for many, many reasons. All of these reasons, from severe to relatively minor concerns, have solutions, and together we can work on figuring out what they are! Therapy should be uniquely tailored to each person. I work with clients to identify patterns of behavior that may have contributed to difficulties in relationships—with family, friends, or at work or school—and help find ways to create positive change. We learn to change our perspective on life, our past, our entire reality, and recognize that we really can control how we think and what we think about. I've worked with a wide array of clients: some with bipolar disorder, PTSD, trauma, grief, and work-life balance issues, along with "every day problems".
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
This is a well-known, "gold standard" approach that has been demonstrated to be effective for many people facing many issues. It is one of the most commonly used "go-to" methods. This is based on the idea that there is a direct link between thoughts, expectations, and behavior that, with attention, can be changed.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
A useful approach that many find helpful, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) has been incorporated into many different disciplines recently. This can be particularly helpful for those with anxiety.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) works by teaching people to accept their thoughts and feelings without judgment while committing to actions that align with their personal values. Instead of fighting difficult emotions, individuals learn mindfulness and acceptance strategies to become more psychologically flexible. This allows them to stop struggling with unwanted thoughts, which frees up energy to focus on making meaningful changes and living a more purposeful life.
Narrative
Narrative therapy works by helping people separate their identity from problem-saturated stories, externalize the problem, and then re-author a new, more positive and empowering narrative. Therapists use techniques like externalization, where the problem is named and treated as separate from the person, and unique outcomes, which involve identifying times the person resisted the problem. Through this process, clients can deconstruct negative assumptions, connect with their values and strengths, and create a new story that aligns with their preferred future.