My Approach to Helping
When someone sits across from me, I'm driven to learn who this unique person is. What makes them excited? What pain needs to be tended? I empower my clients to build upon their strengths to meet their own needs. This is a practical, skill-focused approach so that you have a toolkit whenever panic, trauma responses, or negative thoughts strike. We'll slow things down, notice what's happening in the moment, and use that information to develop better ways to respond. Often, this looks like breathing exercises, visualizations, and affirmations to tip the scales from self-abuse to self-love. With my Neurodivergent clients, it might look more like building a sensory needs care plan, unmasking, reclaiming stims, and developing strategies that work with your neurotype. This is informed by EMDR trauma therapy, somatic awareness, art therapy, and my research and lived experience as a late diagnosed Autistic. Together we can create new ways to respond to old pain so that it informs your life, rather than running it.
More Info About My Practice
I studied Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Art Therapy at Naropa University. There, I learned how to weave traditional therapeutic skills, Buddhist philosophy, and mindfulness practices together. I'm passionate about developing practical, body-based tools catered specifically to your needs. That way you can cope with everyday stressors more confidently. EMDR focuses on nervous system regulation (the fight-flight-freeze response), and tracking how the body, mind, and emotions interact. This approach primarily used for PTSD and CPTSD, but is also effective with anxiety, depression, and LGBTQ+gender identity issues, like internalized homo- and transphobia. For my ADHD and Autistic clients, we can address the grief of late diagnosis, unpack internalized ableism, and creating new pathways for joy and authentic expression. Art is another outlet for complex, intense emotion that can be hard to convey in words. More broadly, creativity is a powerful force for healing. Rewriting your relationship with yourself is key to creating the life you want.
My View on the Nature of 'Disorders'
I could write on this for ages, but I'll simply state that our current medical, deficit-focused mental health model is steeped in white supremacy, patriarchal and capitalistic values on "productivity," and the same -phobias and -isms that exist in other oppressive systems. The history of mental health therapy is inextricably linked with these forces, who define what is "normal" or healthy against the able bodied, straight, white, neurotypical, wealthy, male mold. Living as queer, nonbinary, Neurodivergent person, I have felt like an alien dropped into the world for a lot of my life. But this outsider perspective is also a gift, because I honor the lived experience of my clients as their truth. There is so much lost when the breadth of our humanity is viewed, assessed, and valued from such a narrow lens. I take a highly collaborative approach and seek feedback throughout our work together, so I can be of service to the best of my ability. And I honor self-diagnosis and will explore what it means for you, especially with my Neurodivergent clients. If you're curious about what our work together would look like, please reach out for a free initial consultation.
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.