If this is your first therapy experience or you have had negative ones in the past, I encourage you to not give up on the process. It can be quite overwhelming, especially at the beginning. My goal is first- to help you find the best help possible, which may or may not be working with me. I have a wonderful network of referrals in case we’re not a good fit.
My second goal is to help you learn to help yourself. I’m doing my best job if I can work myself out of a job by helping you get to the root of what’s going on, creating sustainable patterns, healthy boundaries, engaged communication (and conflict), self-awareness. I will never be an expert on you- but I hope to help you become an expert on you.
My favorite clients are the ones who show up for themself- not for me, their spouse, their kids, their friends, employers, or anyone else. They are tired/worn out/exhausted/(insert your own feelings or swear-y words here) and know that the only way to change is to show up do the work, one step at a time.
By training, I’m a marriage and family therapist and I LOVE working within the context of understanding who you are and what you are influenced by, reacting towards or against those relationships and life experiences: in this respect, I’m initially what’s considered a systems therapist. However, I work with individuals, couples, and even adult families.
My main areas of training and focus are relational concerns, communication & conflict resolution, sex therapy (intimacy concerns, medical issues, pain disorders, libido, identity), trauma & abuse, depression (MDD/major depression, PDD/dysthymia, Peri & Postpartum Depression, PMDD (Premenstrual dysphoric disorder), SAD/seasonal affective disorder,and Situation depression), anxiety (GAD/generalized anxiety disorder, PTSD/post traumatic stress, Social anxiety disorder), grief & loss, and the spectrum of infertility, miscarriage, and infant loss.
I have experience integrating a faith/spiritual aspect into counseling but do so from the framework set by the client if it is in any way that is meaningful and helpful for each individual. I’ve also worked with clients who have concerns/pain/navigating harmful religious-based experiences and cults.