Individual Therapy

Throughout your treatment I promise to share my knowledge and honest impressions with you in order to help you learn, grow, and reach your goals.

You aren't just going to "talk at" me the entire time; our psychotherapy work together will be a collaborative conversation!

Many therapy clients have ongoing homework assignments that help move them closer to their goals. The pace is up to the client but we do check in regularly on progress. If no progress is being made then we collaboratively determine what to change to get you moving again. 

 I believe compassionate, honest feedback is also an essential part of client accountability and growth. So, I also promise to very gently challenge you if it will be beneficial to you.

Does the bewildering array of your personal goals intimidate or overwhelm other people in your life? Maybe even your last therapist?

If you have many ambitious, multi-dimensional goals for yourself and your life, you are in the right place. I can help you make concurrent progress on many goals at once using a structured, organized, and holistic approach(es).

Do you sometimes feel like you don't know who you are or what you really want? 

Sometimes you need a supportive ally to hold the space for you to discover who you really are. In therapy, I can help you explore your cultural, sexual, interpersonal, and individual roots, values, and meanings so you can figure out what you really want and how to take action to create a more authentic and satisfying life.

Do you find it hard to take up space in your own life or mind? Do you find yourself bending over backwards for others? Do you question the accuracy or importance of your own needs, opinions, or feelings? Do you exhaust yourself trying to take care of or please others, sometimes feeling resentful about it? Are you drowning in social anxiety?

Psychotherapy can help you learn to take back control and step into your space with improved confidence!

Do you suffer from overwhelming emotions? Do you have difficulty coping with anxiety, fearfulness, sadness, or anger? Maybe you have found less-than-ideal ways to avoid them like procrastination, compartmentalizing, or drugs?

I would love to help you learn to tolerate your strongest feelings, to honor and appreciate them as important messages, and to change your relationship with your emotions to a more positive one.

Insecure attachment styles or attachment "disorders" can result from neglectful, abusive, narcissistic, or immature early childhood caretakers and chaotic home environments. This can present in adulthood as excessive anxiety, anger, distrust, avoidance, guilt, shame, or preoccupation in relationships. The good news is that attachment styles are not set in stone and psychotherapy can help!

Take a free attachment quiz here.

If you experience excessive conflict, anxiety, shame, anger, resentment, or contempt in your relationships, there might be underlying problems to address and therapy can help. You might need help asserting yourself, setting healthier boundaries, or learning better communication skills. 

I am also affirming of LGBTQ+, ethical non-monogamy (ENM), kink, and other alternative lifestyle communities.

I specialize in integrative psychotherapy, which means I holistically use different theories and approaches to your treatment(s), tailored to your unique goals, needs, and strengths. Having many methods to choose from helps increase the likelihood of you successfully reaching your goals!

The following are the approaches I use most often but I have working knowledge of many more. If there is a specific theory/method you are looking for, please send an inquiry! If I can't help, I might know a therapist who can.

Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (a subset of CBT) can help clients change their relationship with their feelings and thoughts, become more mindful and focused, uncover what is most important to them and empower them take action on those values to build a life richer in satisfaction and meaning.

ACT is useful in alleviating anxiety and depression, especially in chronic or complex cases.

As described above, attachment problems and interpersonal anxiety usually result from a lack of consistent, healthy interactions in childhood and later make it difficult to trust others and form healthy connections. Luckily, attachment styles can be changed by learning to tolerate, create, and maintain emotional intimacy in relationships. Thus, psychotherapy can help you feel more secure, nourished, and confident in your relationships!

Take a free attachment quiz here.

Some issues require a focus (at least at first) on immediate relief when symptoms are severe enough to inhibit daily functioning. Some examples include severe insomnia, hypervigilance, agoraphobia, or uncontrollable emotional meltdowns, just to name a few. A variety of practical coping skills can help you start to feel better immediately! 

Here is one to help you feel better RIGHT NOW:

Take a big breath in, pause at the top, then the SLOWEST, LONGEST exhale possible. Try practicing three to four cycles of this nervous-system-calming breathing when you notice anxiety or anger building.

Internal Family Systems is about integrating and harmonizing our combative or traumatized inner family of "parts" that sometimes take over our true Self. 

Imagine how you would feel and behave if your inner critic was supportive and kind? Imagine how you would feel if your wounded inner child felt safe and well-tended? It is possible with IFS therapy. Clients can experience transformative growth in healing old traumas, calming deeply-rooted anxiety, cultivating inner peace, and truly embracing self-compassion.