Through my psychotherapy and counseling services, I offer support, education, and the space to explore what issues are contributing to your struggles. Together we will identify what is not working for you in your life and create a plan to make changes.
I have a calm, compassionate, yet direct approach in working with people. I will draw on your strengths when doing therapy with you. We will look at what is working in your life and how we can utilize that knowledge to apply it to other aspects of your life. You will not only gain insight into some of your history that contributes to your current patterns and beliefs, but we will start to challenge some of that history to encourage your evolution into more the person you want to be. We will also develop skills to help you cope with circumstances when they seem unmanageable.
At the core of my work is developing your awareness of your thoughts, feelings, emotions, and physical sensations. This mindfulness of yourself provides the foundation from which changes can occur. Combining the mind and body in therapy adds further depth and wholeness to the work by engaging more aspects of yourself.
Teens may struggle with stresses pertaining to social media, bullying, peer pressure, drug and alcohol use, and gender or sexual orientation (LGBTQI+) identity.
Sometimes when you are a parent looking for a therapist for your child, your child may be resistant to being “sent” to counseling. I am experienced in and appreciate the process of developing relationships with those who may be more resistant or skeptical of counseling.
Brainspotting sessions may be done within the context of our existing therapy relationship or you may choose to meet with me exclusively for Brainspotting sessions. As Brainspotting is a fairly new kind of therapy (it was discovered in 2003), increasing amounts of research are being done that are moving it’s effectiveness as a rapid treatment for trauma.
Unlike the situational stresses that many adolescents face, some people start to manifest mental illnesses in their teens and early 20’s. In simple terms, mental illness can be caused when a person with the genetic predisposition (meaning they may have a family member with mental illness) incurs a major stress. This stressor may be a social stress such as a relationship difficulty, school or work performance, or a stress to the body such as illness or drug use. When this “break” happens in a person’s mental health, not only the individual, but also his/her family may benefit from early therapeutic interventions to address the issue. The sooner mental illness is addressed and treated, the better the prognosis for the person’s future mental health.
I specialize in therapy with adolescents and adults struggling with mental health issues, as well as I provide education and support to their families and friends. Managing a mental illness is a difficult process. Seeking help through therapy is the beginning to healing and recovery.