My Approach to Our Work Together
Therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all, so finding the approach that works best for you is step one. Therapy is a relationship, and the primary goal of this relationship is to create an environment where you can feel safe enough to be authentic. And I’ll be authentic, too. I value honesty, compassion, and humor. I also value the power of collaboration in our work together. I don’t know everything, and I could never hope to be a better expert on your life than you. So your input isn’t only desired, it’s the most valuable tool we have.
The most important factor in creating positive change is the relationship between the therapist and client (Lambert, M. J., & Barley, D. E. (2001)).
Theoretical orientations can be helpful roadmaps, offering ways to understand how things came to be, insights into what we’re currently facing, and paths forward to reduce suffering and foster a more fulfilling life.
Here are some of the frameworks I frequently draw from:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Liberation Psychology, Feminist Therapy, EMDR
Mindfulness, Self-Compassion, Narrative Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Existential Therapy
Where The Process Draws From
Since starting in mental health in 2011, I’ve worked with people across all stages of life, from early childhood to older adulthood, facing a wide range of challenges, including trauma (C/PTSD), depression, anxiety, dissociation, substance use, self-harm, family conflict, and grief. I’ve learned that healing is a process of planting seeds and allowing time and space for new ways of being to take root.
While I work with a range of issues, my primary focus is trauma. My approach combines multiple models, centering both narrative (explicit) and somatic/body (implicit) memories. Modalities I draw from include Polyvagal Theory, EMDR, Mindfulness, Trauma-Focused CBT, and culturally competent approaches to trauma work. This work often involves building coping skills for acute stress, while also exploring the roots of trauma to create new understandings and pathways for healing.
My History and Training
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a form of therapy created to help people heal from all kinds of traumas, big and small, single events, and the daily traumas of abusive childhoods/relationships and experiences of systemic oppression. However it has also shown to be helpful in healing from depression, anxiety, all sorts of other issues.
EMDR therapy is different from many other forms of therapy as it does not require talking in detail about the distressing issues. It is often referred to as “brain therapy” instead of “talk therapy”, since rather than focusing on changing emotions, thoughts, or behaviors resulting from the distressing issue, EMDR allows the brain to resume its natural healing process help metabolize the traumatic memories themselves allowing us to have new feelings, thoughts, and behaviors in response.