What's My Approach to Therapy?
Seeking help is hard, and finding a therapist you really connect with can be even harder. Thank you for considering me to fill that role! My goal is to provide a safe space for self-discovery and healing for children, teens, and adults.
I use an individualized approach to therapy, working with clients to find what treatment fits best. My methods include psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), expressive arts, mindfulness, strengths-based therapy, exposure and response prevention (ERP), and play therapy. My goal is to help clients build lifelong skills for healing, growth, and resilience.
I provide a safe, nonjudgmental, comfortable space for healing. I believe that there is always room to grow and learn, and I make it a goal to teach my clients something during every session. I meet clients where they're at, and use harm-reduction strategies to help folks reach their mental health goals.
My clients would describe me as honest and straightforward, but also kind and approachable. I am not the type of therapist to beat around the bush; my clients have frequently described me as a "no BS" therapist. My clients have described my style of therapy as unique, and I have tended to work well with people who have had bad prior experiences in therapy.
Specific Issue(s) I'm Skilled at Helping With
I have specialized training and experience working with problematic sexual behaviors, complex trauma, abuse trauma, obsessive-compulsive disorder, severe depression (including suicidal ideation and self-harm), and psychosis.
I've worked with anxiety disorders, mood disorders, psychotic symptoms, personality disorders, oppositional or disruptive behaviors, and more. I also support clients managing everyday stressors.
How Psychotherapy Can Help
There are so many ways that psychotherapy can help you (hence the name of my practice, Therapy Can Help, hehe). Off the top of my head, psychotherapy can help you feel better about yourself, clarify and live by your values, explore your identity, accept yourself, boost your self-esteem, change habits, process your trauma, find coping skills that work for you, set you up for success in your life, and more.
If you're seeking psychotherapy for your child, the same apply. In addition, psychotherapy for your child can help improve your relationship with them, relieve stress, decrease family dysfunction, decrease fights and conflicts, increase effective communication, and understand how your child is feeling and thinking.
You get out of therapy what you put into it. Coming into therapy ready to do the emotional work is going to get you the best outcome. It isn't going to be easy, but it will be worth the hard work.
My Role as a Therapist
As a therapist my role is support you in reaching your healing goals. This doesn't always look like blind acceptance and constant validation - sometimes, you will need to be challenged, and I do not shy away from giving that feedback. I like to tell my clients that my ultimate goal is for them to not even need therapy.
Had a Negative Therapy Experience?
Look, I'm not going to pretend that every single person in the mental health system is the best fit for you. Each individual therapist works in their own way. Some people are in the field when they shouldn't be. Some people don't have the experience you need. Sometimes, you just won't vibe with the therapist.
The mental health system as a whole is frustrating to work through, and it can be demoralizing trying to find the right fit.
Clients often come to me after having had bad experiences with other providers. I like to explore this further with my clients, and understand what wasn't working previously. I tend to take a more relational approach to therapy, which I have been told feels more comfortable and supportive. Your experiences are valid, and I hope to support you in creating more positive experiences moving forward.
