What to expect?
We start with a brief phone call for us to determine whether my services are a good fit for your needs. Great therapy is about goodness of fit!
If so, we meet for our first 50-minute session to get a better sense of what brings you here and what might help you move toward your goals. I will mostly listen and provide some options for moving forward. This provides another opportunity for you to see whether you want to work with me. I prefer to schedule the intake on your second session, so we can fine-tune therapy once you’re fully engaged in the process.
The second session is an intake, which is an in-depth background that helps identify your sticking points and goals so we can work together to outline specific treatment options that work for you.
The following sessions will have a plan and outcome goals we will agree upon. Evidence-based therapy comes with a manual we may follow and a brief time-frame that promotes lasting change over the following weeks to months. This often includes homework, which is vital to integrating changes into your day-to-day. For example, it may be that you are spending all your time in front of your computer and are feeling trapped and depressed. I may suggest going outside for a few minutes every day to combat this. First, we will detail all the things that are getting in the way of you feeling better and doing things that bring you joy. People usually make changes when they can so something may be getting in the way of change. Maybe we’ll find scheduling a chat with a friend in the middle of the day would better fit your lifestyle.
Always, my goal is to take a deep look at what’s keeping you stuck and find methods that are most beneficial for you.
Kinds of treatment?
My therapeutic approach is supportive, non-judgmental, and collaborative, incorporating humor where appropriate. I listen empathically and provide direct feedback. I value authenticity and will share my thoughts and perspective.
My background is integrative, meaning I consider a whole health, whole person perspective, with the understanding that biological processes and psychological health interact. My background includes:
Cognitive Behavioral therapy (CBT)
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Mindfulness Based therapies
Harm-reduction approaches
This means I consider how behaviors (actions) and thoughts are formed within an individual’s values, larger medical issues, interpersonal relationships, and environmental factors. I may ask you to change routines, consider different ways of thinking, and evaluate your values. I also incorporate mindfulness activities where they have been proven effective.
Not every treatment is appropriate for every person and that’s ok! We work together to adjust therapy to match your individual needs and values.
Who can benefit?
Those who are undergoing a life transition, have endured a significant loss, have experienced trauma, are experiencing increased stress, have a clinical diagnosis, or just need someone to talk to. I have experience working with a wide demographic and welcome adults of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds. I have a particular focus on trauma and health behaviors. I have helped people who were experiencing:
-post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
-transitioning and those who identified as LGBTQIA+
-victims of trauma, including military sexual trauma
-chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, chronic Lyme disease and long covid
-traumatic brain injury (TBI)
-neurodivergence and developmental disorders, particularly ADHD