How I work…

My priorities as a therapist are transparency, empowerment, and placing responsibility in the appropriate places by acknowledging the impact of systems, oppressive and otherwise, on our mental health and wellbeing.

My goal is to treat each of my clients as an individual who is struggling and therefore found their way to my office. But that struggle neither defines them nor means there is something wrong with them.

I believe that when we find ourselves in therapy it is because a tool we previously used to protect ourselves and keep ourselves safe (such as people pleasing) is no longer serving it’s purpose and in fact is often getting in the way of us living the life we want or being the people we want to be. I believe that “every problem was once a solution”. It is a very human thing to outgrow our old coping mechanisms.

My role as your therapist is to support you as you discover the resources you already have within you to change these patterns. I may at time teach you things through what we call psychoeducation about the brain, body, psychology, etc. I love reading and often recommend books. (I also make it clear that clients can never read a single one and that’s okay). While I use psychoed, I also believe each person has the knowledge and internal resources they need, they just sometimes need help both accessing it and a partner to support and witness in a safe and supportive environment.

The therapeutic approaches I use are Art Therapy, Internal Family Systems, and Relational Integrative Therapy. I use each of these approaches and theories through a trauma-informed lens. I also approach therapy not as a band-aid but as a way to effect real, deep change. This means I do long-term, depth work with clients. This takes time and the formation of a trusting relationship so I often work with my clients for a minimum of one year.

Due to being a one individual private practice, I am not well suited for individuals who need support beyond weekly sessions. I collaborate with clients to create safety plans and understand their resources and options when they feel in need of further support. This can include all sorts of things that allow clients to be and feel safe and is not exclusively limited to emergency rooms or hospitals. Client choice and autonomy is important to me including when we are discussing safety. Due to my limited capacity, I am not generally able to provide immediate crisis counseling services or after hours support.