You deserve to get the care that you need
Therapy varies from client to client. Some people prefer talk therapy so our sessions are unstructured and flexible, discussing whatever is on the client’s mind at the time of the session. Others prefer more structure so sessions are centered around a specific therapeutic intervention, goal, or coping skill. My objective is to develop a strong therapeutic relationship and obtain a deeper understanding of my client’s struggles before establishing counseling goals. In my practice I utilize many systemic therapeutic modalities catering my approach based on the needs and preferences of each individual.
DSM Diagnoses
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For clients struggling with anxious or depressive disorders I use a mix of psychoeducation and person centered therapy. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, we might start with resources - building a support network, increasing coping skills, or expanding understanding of thoughts and behaviors. Alternatively we can start by exploring past relationships and experiences to discover what attachment wounds and negative narratives continue to surface in the present. Throughout therapy we work to challenge negative and self-deprecating thoughts and replace them with kindness and understanding in order to establish a positive self identity.
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For clients struggling with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder I first focus on building therapeutic rapport. This is important in all therapy, but especially so with clients who have experienced extensive trauma. Once we have established a strong relationship, we start the work. We focus on decreasing PTSD symptoms, while simultaneously building safety, increasing coping skills, and self esteem. When clients start to feel in control of their lives and symptoms, we shift to doing the heavier work of exploring past trauma and creating new narratives.
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With clients who primarily struggle with ADHD, therapy tends to focus on building executive functioning skills. I utilize psychoeducation to increase understanding and build skills around organizing and prioritizing tasks, focusing, sustaining attention, regulating alertness, sustaining effort, processing speed, managing emotions, and using working memory while doing more than one task. We also process their experience and how ADHD impacts their life, as well as work on building self esteem.
Relational Therapy
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Relational therapy with individuals can include processing feelings from a current relationship or discussing one that has ended. We explore attachment wounds that arise and typical communication patterns. We trace where these attachment wounds began, looking at early childhood relationships. I utilize a mix of systemic based therapy such as emotion focused therapy, Bowenian therapy, structural family therapy, among others.
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In couple’s therapy I work with clients to navigate relational struggles. We explore communication patterns and attachment wounds. We trace where these attachment wounds began, looking at early childhood relationships, and discuss how these come up in the relationship currently. We identify triggers and talk about how to interrupt cycles. I utilize a mix of systemic based therapy such as emotion focused therapy, Bowenian therapy, structural family therapy, among others.
(I have a limited availability for couples therapy, which is currently full. For the time being, I am only accepting individual clients.)
Organization/Hoarding
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For individuals who struggle with staying organized, therapy focuses around finding the root of the problem and creating systems to address the issues.
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With clients who struggle with hoarding, the work focuses around exploring the root of holding on to things. We first start by establishing a strong therapeutic relationship before developing a deeper understanding of the thoughts and behaviors that lead to hoarding. We create an anxiety hierarchy as we start tackling the work of letting go. We then create systems to maintain organization and talk about how to sustain these systems moving forward.