Introduction: I support people in their desire to overcome their past and live fully in the present.
In our society, many of us are never taught how to express our thoughts and emotions in a healthy way. We're told to just "get over it" or "suck it up." We start to think that emotions are bad, especially distressing ones such as depression or anxiety. But emotions are our friends! Yes, even depression and anxiety. They serve as warnings about our environment, to activate the fight, flight, freeze response to keep us safe. But without the ability to process and release these helpful emotions, they get "stuck" and become maladaptive and overwhelming. We can experience panic, helplessness, hopelessness, and difficulty with impulse control.
Happiness is the journey - not the end destination. There might be days you won't want to come to session. There might be days when you just want to give up. I get it. My ideal client understands that change takes time, patience, and practice.
Mental health is much like physical fitness. You can't go to the gym once a week and get that six-pack or be able to lift your body weight. You have to practice! Just talking won't make your problems change or go away. You have control over how you think about and respond to your environment, but old habits die hard. The good news is, through commitment to change and daily practice, you can build new pathways in your brain, so that your instinct is to respond in a healthy way instead of your old, unhelpful ways.
All I ask is that you come to session on time, cancel and reschedule in advance when you need to, and follow through on your commitment to recovery.
I use both somatic (body) and cognitive-behavioral approaches to help people learn how to transform the way you respond to daily stressors in a mindful and regulated way. We'll identify your triggers, name your emotions and negative thoughts, and discover where you hold them in your body. Then we'll work to determine which skills and tools might work best for you to overcome your barriers to wellness and move forward on your path to recovery. I also use a lot of humor (when appropriate), to make sessions fun!
I work primarily with high-functioning adults; meaning, if you have a severe and persistent mental illness, it must be stabilized with medications, or be under control in other ways. You must be consistent and reliable for therapy to be beneficial for you. Ask yourself if you are ready to commit to regular sessions, and if you have reliable transportation to attend them. If you are experiencing hallucinations, delusions, or paranoia, I ask that you please consult with a psychiatrist for the best course of treatment.
I am trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), EMDR Therapy, and Trauma Release Exercises. I am not trained in substance abuse counseling.
Sessions range from 45-90 minutes, with the standard time of 60 minutes.
