My Approach to Helping
Do you feel like you are quietly fighting for your life, and no one around you knows? Are you feeling on the verge of a breakdown, worried you’re losing your mind, and struggling to maintain daily routines because of overwhelming thoughts? Do you feel disconnected from your life, and miss the person you used to be? I want you to know that you already possess the path to healing within you, and that you are not alone in this. You can rely on me to be here to provide trauma-informed care for anxiety, depression, and trauma within a safe and trusting therapeutic relationship. I will help you find your way back home.
I hold a Master's degree in Psychology from The New School for Social Research, and I have completed years of clinical training in both individual and group settings, and in-patient and out-patient settings. I'm also certified by the International Trauma Training Institute as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional.
I specialize in polyvagal therapy, which is about tapping into your body's natural ability to find calm and safety. It's like having a roadmap for your nervous system, helping you understand why you react the way you do in different situations. We'll work together to soothe those anxious nerves and bring you back to living a connected life. Polyvagal therapy feels like giving yourself a big, comforting hug from the inside out while creating a more grounded and resilient state of being. Through mindful practices and gentle interventions, you'll relearn how to befriend your body, find solace in its wisdom, and truly live again.
More Info About My Practice
I describe my therapeutic style as humanistic and compassion-focused. A humanistic style of therapy centers on you, the client, and your journey towards self-discovery and growth. You can rely on me to offer a safe, supportive space where you're encouraged to explore your thoughts and feelings while I provide empathy and guidance. The aim is to help you gain insight, build self-awareness, and move towards living a more authentic and fulfilling life.
Compassion-focused therapy helps you develop self-compassion, allowing you to approach your inner struggles with kindness and understanding. By fostering a more nurturing relationship with yourself, you'll build emotional resilience and improve your overall mental well-being. Whether you're dealing with anxiety, depression, or self-esteem issues, CFT can provide you with the tools to lead a more compassionate and fulfilling life. When integrated with Polyvagal-Informed Therapy, which focuses on regulating the nervous system and enhancing feelings of safety, this approach enables deeper healing. Together, these therapies create a supportive environment where you can navigate your emotions, calm your nervous system, and build a more compassionate, balanced life. This holistic combination empowers you to address the roots of your struggles and achieve lasting well-being.
My View on the Nature of 'Disorders'
I want you to know that I do not pathologize human experience. In my practice, I see mental health through a different lens- not as a list of disorders, but as a reflection of nervous system dysregulation. Nervous system dysregulation occurs naturally and normally, in response to stress and trauma. You are not broken. I'm all about understanding how our emotions connect with our nervous system. When things feel off-kilter, like anxiety or low moods, it's often our nervous system trying to tell us something, and it is doing what it is designed to do- which is to keep you safe. Problems only arise when the nervous system becomes inflexible or 'stuck' in a dysregulated state, or is responding to the present moment as if something from the past is still occurring.
My approach is rooted in polyvagal theory, a fancy term for understanding how our nervous system responds to stress and trauma. Through gentle techniques like mindfulness and somatic exercises, we'll work together to help you find balance and calm. Think of it as a journey of self-discovery, where you'll learn to tune into your body's cues and reclaim a sense of control over your well-being.
I'm here to provide a safe space where you can explore what's going on inside and uncover the tools you need to thrive.
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.
