MY approach

I’m an integrative psychotherapist which means I weave together different clinical approaches and theories for a fuller, more comprehensive therapeutic process. Specifically, I approach therapy from a psychodynamic, systems oriented, and feminist theoretical orientation. What does that really mean? I help my clients look at their past, understanding that what happened in our childhood, in our family system and cultural systems has an impact on all us. You'll hear me encourage and explore with you in understanding what is unconsciously guiding you in life and how we might become more conscious about certain aspects to get to the root of limiting beliefs, self-doubt, fears, anxieties, about yourself and the world. In our younger years, we often draw meta-conclusions about ourselves, these are beliefs that are typically negative about ourselves and we unconsciously carry them with us into our adulthood. Feeling responsible, defective, unsafe or vulnerable, needing control or lacking power are the common themes that surround these old beliefs. We work together to understand and reorient your adult knowledge and wisdom so these beliefs formed in your younger years are no longer at the helm of your ship. Unburdening is an essential part of the work. I utilize a combination of IFS (parts work) and EMDR to support clients in this process. 

Trauma Work

What is trauma for one person may not be for another, it’s truly subjective. We don’t get to decide what ends up being traumatic for us in life. Many women I work with tell me something like, “I don’t know what my problem is, I had a good upbringing”. Trauma can be a big ‘T’ trauma, an event that is more obvious to you as distressing and having a negative impact such as a car accident, sexual assault, death of a loved one, being in a natural disaster. Trauma also shows up as a little ‘t’ trauma. This trauma is usually much harder to identify, it may be a constant distressing environment at home, parents who were experiencing chronic stress, or it may have been exposure to lots of anger, a toxic work environment, a “bad” ex-partner. Even harder to name is what DIDN’T get to happen that should’ve happened, such as, being told you are loved, being held and hugged enough, being validated about our pain when a parent was verbally abusive and so much more.

As a trauma informed therapist, I bring 9 years of clinical experience and practice in understanding how trauma impacts our minds, bodies, and spirits. I’m trained to help clients identify and process unresolved trauma and then create a path towards THRIVING, not only surviving. I help individuals by using EMDR, and was trained through the Center for Excellence in EMDR Therapy in relational EMDR psychotherapy and in several trauma informed therapies. I help you to process both difficult experiences in addition to building positive beliefs and feelings about yourself. I believe in post-traumatic growth and support my clients in moving towards this as they reach certain levels of healing in our therapy work together.

Spirituality and Religion

Sometimes clients want to talk about their spiritual selves, regardless of any religious affiliation, this frequently is important to many women and their healing journey. I’m clinically trained to integrate your spiritual orientation in our therapy work. For some women I see they begin a process or continue a process of individuation within or from their religious origins. Wherever you may be on this journey, I respect and honor your beliefs and we will help you hold what is life-giving to you if this is important to you.

Dreams

Many clients of mine are vivid dreamers and often working with significant dreams becomes a part of the work for some clients.

 GUIDED IMAGERY

Our minds are powerful, often our distress is amplified by what we imagine: fearful scenarios, anxious thoughts, and replaying distress events. Thanks to our brain’s neuroplasticity we are able to create new neuropathways from our imagined experiences, engaging in guided imagery, hypnotherapy and EMDR becomes a way for you to start having a new, positive, healing experience. Let’s work with your powerful imagination in a way that is supportive and life giving.

Mind-Body Connection

As a trained and certified yoga teacher of 10 + years (RYT 500),I’m also certified in Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TSY) as a therapeutic tool for anxiety, trauma and depression. In a session this usually looks like bringing in  mindfulness, meditation, breath work and really understanding the body and the mind are always connected. We will honor your physical experiences as much as your emotions. 

Therapeutic Relationship

I feel incredibly honored and privileged to do what I love. I value the client-therapist relationship immensely. Most of my clients and work together for a longer duration. However, sometimes our relationship is meant to be shorter. Or you may do some significant personal work and find after a long period of time, you want to pause the work and return later, working together off and on over a longer period of time. I recommend weekly therapy because you will get more out of the therapy process. In the 9 years I’ve been working with clients, I see the positive impact of weekly therapy helping clients feel supported, stable and moving through their personal goals more fully. I partner with you and we collaborate in order to navigate what feels true for you. My clinical experience and intuition works with your wise self. I am not someone who will only listen, nod and provide compassionate understanding; we will also dive into you, your life, your past and future vision as you’re ready enough to do so. The work I do with clients is deep, nourishing, eye-opening and transformative. You will gain tools from me, but I believe you should be gaining more from your therapy experience. Most of the clients I see already know about great tools, you don’t necessarily need me to help with what an app can do. I’m here for the transformative work, and I will be with you through the difficulty and pain and celebrating your triumphs. Feeling like you’ve found the right fit, is so essential in making your therapy experience more, well, therapeutic! I support you in having the right support. Therapy is an investment in YOU.