Compassionate. Relational. Trauma Informed.
My approach…
The most important thing I want you to know about who I am and how I work as a counselor is that I believe that the therapeutic relationship is the most important thing about therapy. If we don’t have that connection, then it’s so much harder to do the life transforming work that can happen in the therapy room. This approach is shaped by knowing my own struggles to rise up out of the mud… I do this work because I’ve been there, and I have always appreciated therapists who were able to be “real” with me rather than cold, distant, and humorless.
I try to be as genuine as I can. What you see in my office is what you would see in my everyday life. I am a deeply compassionate, empathetic person who holds sacred the trust you place in me to share this journey to healing with you. I strive to offer a space where you feel seen, understood, and accepted for where you are right now and while also supporting you in growing toward where you want to be. I also love to use humor in my work and can often be heard making off beat comments in session to help shake things up when we’re stuck.
When it comes to techniques and theories, I have a few favorites that I think blend well together. You can read more below about some of these if you’re interested, but the short version is that I believe that our past experiences mold us into who we are, especially experiences in relationships. Many of us have had experiences that left us with intense emotions, painful beliefs and self-defeating behavior patterns that play out automatically without much awareness. Sometimes these parts of ourselves get exiled from our awareness all together, which makes it pretty difficult to have a full picture of who we are and what we want or need to feel whole again. We will work together to understand how these pieces of the puzzle fit together so that you can make choices that empower you rather than keep you feeling trapped.
If you’re seeking support for working through trauma, I utilize mind-body based interventions (such as EMDR and mindfulness) to help process and integrate traumatic experiences so that you can move past the past. If you’re feeling like you need some more concrete tools for how to cope with overwhelming emotions, how to be more effective in relationships, or to build self-awareness, I also can incorporate a more directive, skill building approach into our work with Dialectical Behavior Therapy.
So if you’re ready and willing to explore what’s going on under the surface that’s keeping you stuck in the mud, I’m here to dig in and help you along your unique journey to finding your own peace, wisdom, and healing and wholeness. Let’s get started! I’d love to hear from you!
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), an evidence-based approach to addressing and reprocessing traumatic memories. I often describe traumatic memories as “ice cubes” in your brain—they’re frozen in time and when they are activated, it feels like the past is happening again in the present. EMDR utilizes your brain’s innate capabilities to “melt the ice cube” (with support from me when processing gets stuck) to bring relief from the distress associated with these memories. EMDR doesn’t require you to retell details of your story and it helps us heal the root of what’s causing your suffering.
My EMDR trainer is EMDRIA certified. You can read more about EMDR here. I have additional training in Attachment-Focused EMDR and using EMDR to address dissociative disorders with Ego State Therapy.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
I am also trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), an evidence-based approach that combines structured behavioral skill building with individual therapy that focuses on integrating change and acceptance to help people gain mastery in managing the ups and downs of life. DBT focuses on developing skills in the following 4 areas:
Mindfulness
Distress Tolerance
Emotion Regulation
Interpersonal Effectiveness
I have extensive experience teaching DBT skills groups and providing individual DBT therapy in comprehensive DBT programs. You can read more about DBT here.