My Approach to Helping
"Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage.
Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness."
-Brené Brown
Something that I have been known for is my courage to be vulnerable & authentic. I am always looking for ways to heal, grow & be a better person This requires radical self acceptance. I am not afraid to do the deep work to help myself and others on their healing journey. Something that I have been known for is my courage to be vulnerable & authentic. I am always looking for ways to heal, grow & be a better person. This requires radical self acceptance. I am not afraid to do the deep work to help myself and others on their healing journey.
Being a part of the LGBTQIA+ community has encouraged my passion with helping this community. I also enjoy working with BIPOC. Through the work of my MFT program and witnessing all the hate towards marginalized communities, a fire ignited in me. I knew what type of therapist I needed to be and who I wanted to serve. I am an anti-racist. I am LGBTQIA+ affirming. I am an ally. I am an advocate for diverse groups and communities. I may not get things right all the time, but I am willing to learn and do what I can to get better and improve the social justice and tolerance movement. I take a client centered approach and building trust with clients is one of the most important tasks. I use EMDR, Narrative Therapy, Art and Play Therapy and Mindfulness and Meditation in sessions. Sometimes just talking helps too! I would love to work with you!
My area of focus is women, families, and children who experience anxiety, depression, grief and loss, addiction, sexual abuse and chronic pain, disability, and PTSD. I take a client centered approach and building trust with clients is one of the most important tasks. I use Narrative Therapy where we will work together to deconstruct a problematic story collected through the events of your life. Narrative Therapy will help you re-author your story and practice externalization. I also use EMDR, Eye Movement Desensitization, and Reprocessing, which helps people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and panic disorders. With children and teens, I love art and play therapy which helps them to express their emotions in healthy and productive ways. I teach tools to help adolescents with anxiety and depression.
What I look forward to the most about our time together is helping you to create a plan for peace, healing, self-love, acceptance and overcoming obstacles you might be experiencing. I create a safe and accepting space for clients to feel heard and validated. I look forward to meeting you and working with you on your healing journey and therapy goals.
A little about me: I love long walks on the beach ( seriously) looking for shells and any other ocean treasures. Nature is my place, and this is where I do my best thinking. I enjoy painting rocks for The Kindness Rocks Projects. I also paint shells. My Shih Tzu is 16 years and he is the best! I am active in the Alanon 12 Step Programs. I do offer a few sliding scale options, please contact me for more information.
Be Well!
Tara