Counseling and Psychotherapy 

To help you understand my style of therapy I have included some reflections on my specialty areas. My approach involves open conversation and is flexible and collaborative. I strive to provide a safe space where you will feel comfortable offering your thoughts.

Individual Adults

I provide therapy around many general issues such as anxiety, depression, anger management, ADHD, and work stress. I am interested in exploring all apects of your life with you. As I get to know you better, there is also opportunity for you to come to know yourself better. I believe there is great relief that can come in simply being taken seriously. I take you seriously, and do my best to understand your world as you experience it. I want to join you and work toward the goals you have for this process. This can happen by working on practical change as well as by looking at behaviors and emotions. What you do shapes who you become.  In therapeutic conversation you are doing something new, it is through this unpredictable and infinite experience that you become more than you were before. 

Couples and Relationships

I have been providing relationship counseling to individuals, and couples for over 3 years. Many people experience their greatest joys and their greatest pain within relationships. Relationship counseling can be about more than saving a relationship. My approach involves exploring cultural dynamics, family of origin, and attachment styles. This process is intended to help you identify your needs and begin implementing healthier strategies to getting those needs met.  Relationship issues are not limited to romantic relationships and include; considering ending a relationship, grieving a lost relationship, or just feel stuck and unhappy in your current relationships. This could occur between friends, family, and colleagues. In any case I draw from Gottman's work on couples and focus on increasing kindness and connection with those most important in your life. I am also mindful of coercive control issues and various power dynamics that can exist due to race, gender, sexual orientation, socio-ecenomic, and career status. I use attachment models and psychodynamic theory to explore relationship issues, and draw from addiction models if codependency issues arise. We are all connected. Even a hermit is connected to others, through his avoidance of them. 

Work Stress

The all consuming monster of work stress can be one of the most difficult issues you ever encounter, but you don't have to face it alone. Workplace abuse and trauma impact your mental health, relationships, and can derail you from completing your life projects. After spending 40 hours a week feeling stressed and anxious, making effort to build something else can feel impossible. I provide a safe place to offload some of the burden your job may be placing on you. I focus on practical change by developing coping skills to reduce stress during work situations. Relationships at the work place may be a potential tough spot, together we will identify your style of relating and use your strengths to increase your ability to navigate work relationships. Sometimes being listened to can give you the space you need to understand your situation better and provide you a jumping off point to make any changes you chose. Lets get started building a more meaningful life.

Transitions 

When adjusting to challenges and changes outside your control you may wish somebody or something could tell you exactly what to do. The quest for certainty can be very seductive but is often fruitless. Instead I focus on helping you develop a better relationship with your own internal compass, increase self awareness, and confidence. This can mean addressing and overcoming shame, anxiety, and fear. What you need is already within you. Discover yourself and you can go anywhere. I believe there is a resilience to the human spirit, that if properly nurtured provides healing, purpose, and self respect. This process can be frustrating and difficult, but you are not alone. Be it a divorce, the death of a loved one, a career change, or graduation, the only constant in life is change. I focus on developing your strengths so you can feel confident in your abilities to navigate all life's transitions. 

Spirituality

As time goes on the category of “nones” or those who no longer affiliate with any specific religion continues to grow. However religion, and spirituality often fill important human needs for connection, reciprocity, community, ritual, and meaning. I deal with the full spiritual spectrum. Whether or not you wish to be spiritual, the need for ritual, community, and spiritual growth remain. I am particularly interested in working with those whose childhood experiences with religion have made getting these needs met especially challenging. It can be hard to admit you need some of the things religion offered when religions have hurt you so much. I assist individuals in finding new ways to connect to their spirituality despite past negative experiences and meet the critical needs for community, ritual, and healthy spiritual development. I also work with those for whom spirituality plays an important role in their life, and those seeking greater spiritual depth and development. I also assist couples from different faith backgrounds to navigate and explore the role of religion and spirituality in their life and relationships. 

General Issues

  • Depression

  • Anxiety

  • Loneliness

  • ADHD

  • Substance Misuse and Abuse Issues

  • Negative Thinking

  • Mood Swings

  • Feeling Stuck

  • Grief and Loss

  • Self Doubt

Social Justice

In all aspects of my therapy practice I seek to be culturally competent and socially mindful. I believe therapy is a social justice endeavor. I make every effort to be aware of the various power dynamics within all relationships you find yourself in. This includes; friendships, partnerships, sexual relationships, the workplace, spiritual communities, and culture at large. I am LGBTQAI affirming, as well as culturally sensitive, and feminist minded when it comes to understanding the issues that you face. Therapy itself is an act of rebellion toward a culture that systematically silences those it has put on the margins. I believe it is more important now than ever to come and make your voice heard.

Individual TEENS

I have over 10 years experience working with children and teens. My experience consists of inpatient, and outpatient work carried out in the community, hospitals, homes, schools, and clinical settings. With young people my style is informal, energetic, and engaging. I love comics, cartoons, anime, video games, and am personally part of several fandoms. I utilize these sources of story, art, and community, to forge genuine relationships with young people and to help them understand themselves, and heal. I apply experiential exercises within a safe caring relationship to provide teens with an opportunity to develop emotional intelligence and maturity. I use open conversation, art, and play to help teens sort through the issues they face.