My Approach to Helping
Because sometimes talking is often not enough to create deep, meaningful and lasting change, I offer Brainspotting, EMDR and Internal Family Systems informed therapy, all of which are evidence-based, mind-body therapies that get to the root of symptoms and actual heal our unresolved wounds and traumatic memories, as opposed to providing short-term symptom relief.
I work with individuals (kids, teens, and adults) who are feeling stuck because there is a gap between the life that they want and the life that they have. They are typically experiencing anxiety, relational difficulties, or a general feeling of stuckness and a misalignment between what life looks like currently and what they really want and know is possible.
Because our most important relationship is with ourselves, this is a great place to start. I often utilize Brainspotting (BSP), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help clients go deeper than traditional talk therapy can go. All three are evidence-based mind-body therapies that help clients heal emotional wounds, reduce anxiety, transform traumatic memories, create more self-trust and self-understanding, feel more self-compassion and a greater sense of well-being.
I also offer effective communication skills training and boundary-limit setting, helping clients have difficult conversations in a more productive way while honoring their true self and staying respectful of others.
I also use Brainspotting, EMDR and IFS with adolescents and teens, typically for anxiety relief and for transforming phobias.
More Info About My Practice
I am very passionate about Internal Family Systems Therapy. I believe it is a comprehensive map to the human psyche and offers true healing and transformation. It is the most nonjudgmental and non-pathologizing model available and also the most effective that I have come across in the last 15 years in the field.
I supplement this therapy with Brainspotting or EMDR when needed or when a client prefers.
I am IFS informed, having completed the 6 month IFS Circle training and am currently enrolled in the IFS Learning Hub. I recently got to meet Dick Schwartz at an IFS retreat in Santa Cruz, CA, which was the highlight of my career.
Specific Issue(s) I'm Skilled at Helping With
Improving your relationship with yourself and others, improving communication, transforming anxiety, increasing the capacity to cope with stress, moving past a break-up, helping you learn to have good boundaries and stand up for yourself, getting your wants and needs across to your partner, feeling OK with or without a relationship, transforming painful life experiences into growth and acceptance, and truly healing old wounds that your inner child andor inner adolescent is carrying in your psyche. I truly believe we have to befriend all of our thoughts, feelings, inner critics and body sensations to attain lasting well-being.
How Psychotherapy Can Help
Therapy is a safe place where clients can openly share what is in their hearts and minds without judgment. It can help individuals get to know themselves better, heal past and current hurts and traumas, gain perspective on their situation, communicate better, learn to empathize with themselves and each other instead of fighting, learn the skills to really hear each other, to heal from small and large betrayals, and to feel more loved and connected.
How My Own Struggles Made Me a Better Therapist
I am a Brainspotting and IFS therapist and I also have had Brainspotting and IFS therapy as a client so I know first hand how powerful these healing modalities can be.
I have also been in marriage counseling with my husband after we hit a rough patch after about 9 years of marriage and it truly helped us. We recently celebrated 15 years together.
It's so courageous to ask for help!
Clinicians who offer sliding scale payment structures may offer lower or reduced fees based on an individual's ability to pay. Please contact this clinician for more details regarding their fees or sliding scale policy.