MY SERVICES
My approach to therapy is person-centered. I use a variety of experiential modalities to help clients process the past, release the future, and be present in today. My areas of focus include trauma, anxiety, and attachment for both children and adults.
Common issues I work with include anxiety/panic, attachment wounds (relational or familial), chronic illness/medical trauma, LGBTQ+ issues, religious trauma, emotional and physical abuse, compassion fatigue and complex trauma.
Trauma
We know trauma affects our bodies and our minds. Trauma can show up in a variety of experiences: big, small, instant, chronic, etc. When the body experiences something as trauma, we can get stuck on high alert, re-experiencing the trauma as if it’s happening over and over again. My goal is to help the mind and body reestablish safety and control using a combination of EMDR, EFIT, and parts work ,empowering clients to reclaim their story.
I work with all types of trauma including religious trauma, medical trauma/chronic illness, complex trauma, family of origin trauma, LGBTQ+ issues, etc.
Anxiety
Anxiety comes in a variety of forms, often dictating our thoughts and overriding our nervous system. Often, I find that somewhere along the way, my clients learned that anxiety kept them safe, but now, it’s overfunctioning. I also find meeting that anxiety with more self judgment usually keeps the loop going. I use a self-compassionate approach to help clients not only find relief, but identify the bravery and courage they’ve had within them all along
Attachment
No one is an island. We are wired for connection. Important relationships in our life shape us. When those relationships are unhealthy, we can be left with attachment wounds that dictate how we see ourselves and others. I believe in the power of the therapeutic alliance as well as our need for community. These wounds did not happen in isolated settings, and so they most likely won’t heal in isolation either. Using experiential techniques, I hope we can both grieve attachment wounds and explore new ways for clients to view themselves and interact in relationships.
Therapy Modalities I Use:
EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
When trauma happens, the memory can get “stuck” in the brain, causing us to continually re-experience the trauma as if it’s happening over and over again, creating triggers. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) believes that the brain wants to adapt and utilizes the brain’s natural healing process.
EMDR does not require clients to talk in detail about the distressing events. EMDR allows our brain to go in and re-process the memory through to resolution. This allows the memories, negative beliefs, and feelings of discomfort to shift into the past so clients can move forward. EMDR utilizes bilateral stimulation using a lightbar, hand buzzers, or headphones to facilitate this process.
Play Therapy
“Toys are children’s words and play is their language” – Gary L. Landreth.
Play therapy is a developmentally appropriate way to help children process hard things and learn new skills. Through play, children can effectively express their emotions and practice new ways of thinking and interacting with others.
I also am a believer in using play therapy across the lifespan. Adults need play too! The experiential nature of play provides an arena to not just theorize, but actually try things on and embody the therapeutic work. Sometimes, it is easier and more accurate to express feelings with paint or figures than to say them. Play is a powerful vehicle for self-expression and exploration.
EFIT - Emotionally focused therapy for individuals
Emotionally focused therapy for individuals (EFIT) is steeped in systems and attachment theory. As the name suggests, EFIT prioritizes identifying and experiencing emotions and identifies cycles the client is stuck in both internally and externally. Clients become aware of these cycles and learn to untangle themselves and experience something new. Though this type of therapy pulls meaning from the past, it is focused on the client’s present moment experience. EFIT often changes how a client views themselves, releasing them from the cycle so they can experience something new.
Sandtray therapy
Sandtray therapy uses a large tray of sand and miniature figures. The Sandtray provides a safe, contained space to express and explore your inner world in a tangible way. The tray can be used with or without a prompt. Sometimes, the tray can help communicate or illustrate something words cannot. The scenes created with a tray can help clients experience emotional release, gain new realizations, and practice out fictitious change leading to real change in their life. I utilize sandtray therapy on its own as well as in conjunction with parts work and EMDR.
Parts work
We are complex beings. Parts work acknowledges our inner world and the various “parts” within us. This therapeutic lens increases self awareness and inner harmony by exploring how we’ve been shaped by and made meaning of our experiences. With parts work, we will become familiar with the different parts and hopefully aid those parts to work in alignment with Self.
These parts often fuel our experiences of inner conflict, like the pain of an inner child or a perfectionistic ritual. These inner conflicts can cause personal turmoil and relational distress. Parts work acknowledges that we all make sense in the context of our story; there are no “bad” parts. Parts work can create more attunement with Self and helps us understand why we do what we do. With this understanding, clients can experience a sense of integration and wholeness.
Fees:
$130 for a 50-minute session
$180 for a 75-minute session (used for EMDR and family sessions)
Reduced rate counseling is available by request according to availability.
I do not accept insurance, but I do accept FSA or HSA cards.