My Approach to Helping
Do you often find yourself feeling stuck within yourself, relationships, or within your environment? My ideal client is ready for change. They are open to creative ideas and new ways of thinking about themselves and the world. I work with clients to gain a stronger sense of self by exploring the ways past and present experiences prevent you from living the life you are meant to be living. I approach these struggles through a holistic and trauma informed approach, which incorporates body-based, anti-oppression, and harm reduction practices.
I deeply believe in the growth and healing potential within each individual. Some presenting concerns I commonly work with are anxiety, panic attacks, depression, relationship issues, complex trauma, sexual assault recovery, physical &or emotional abuse recovery, low self-esteem, issues with a sense of belonging, loneliness, and suicidal thoughts.
It is important to me that you feel like you have choices in our sessions together. You are an equal collaborator with me on your journey. Clients have described me as warm, grounded, nonjudgmental, compassionate, intuitive, and lovingly honest. I offer complimentary 15 min. screening calls to see if we would be a good fit, so please reach out!
Specific Issue(s) I'm Skilled at Helping With
Panic Attacks, Anxiety, Depression, Body Image Issues, Disordered Eating, Low-Self Esteem, Identity Issues, Survivors of Sexual AssaultAbuse, Complex Trauma Recovery, Issues With a Sense of Belonging, and Relationships Issues with Self and Others
My View on the Purpose of Psychotherapy
I view psychotherapy as an ongoing experience. Psychotherapy can help individuals find their way back home within themselves and back onto their path. Psychotherapy is helpful for processing trauma and experiences, but also is an opportunity for individuals to reconnect with themselves. After processing trauma and nurturing the trauma wounds, psychotherapy can help individuals decide what they want their new story to look like and help individuals navigate the world as their new self through identity work.
My Role as a Therapist
I have a firm belief that I can only take you as deep inwards as I have been myself. I am constantly working on my spiritual and emotional self so that I can help show you the way. Therapy isn't supposed to be fun. Yes - our connection may be great, but I will push. Don't worry - I follow your lead unless you seem stuck. We will get uncomfortable, but remember, I've been here before and will be with you the entire time.
I have you work on specific things outside of session. I only get you for 1 hour a week - we must have more consistency than that.
We use your body as a tool of communication. I'm very interactive. We process together. I'm not one to just sit there and ask you "how do you feel about that". I'm very intuitive and do a good job of matching your vibrations throughout the session.
On the Fence About Going to Therapy?
While it certainly seems these days as though there is less stigma around mental health, that does not always mean that the road towards a better you is not without its challenges. Making the decision to seek out a therapist; to seek help for yourself, your marriage or a loved one in your care can cause many once-hidden fears to surface.
There is a common fallacy of thought that causes individuals to downplay the issues that they are experiencing, telling themselves that others have it worse or that they don't really need the help, that they'll be able to figure it out on their own. They may feel that whatever symptoms have arisen do not fit a typical diagnosis or warrant professional intervention. They may even join the ranks of individuals fighting for less stigma surrounding mental health, while at the same time believing that therapy is for other people.
Meeting with a therapist in an individual format, the possibilities are endless for session discussions, for seeking internal growth and discovery, and improving your quality of life. Even if you are not currently experiencing more severe symptoms of anxiety, depression, trauma, or learned problematic behavioral patterns as we see in both substance abuse and eating disorders, that doesn?t mean that therapy is not necessary, or cannot be helpful.
You may find instead that individual counseling is the perfect place to reevaluate your own role in relationship difficulties, get a handle on anger, or learn to navigate new life transitions. Therapists can teach skills in stress management, developing self-esteem, and help you to cultivate greater self-awareness.
Even if you remain unconvinced of your need for long-term support, establishing a relationship with an external party who can provide feedback and direction, if even just for a few sessions, can help you chart a course into greater emotional and mental well-being.
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.