Heal. Explore. Evolve.
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
— Mary Oliver
We all want to live a happy life, but our brains are hard-wired to focus on problems. Most psychotherapy is an extension of this - focused on diagnosing what’s wrong with you. I take a different approach. I believe that within you is an incredible capacity to learn, grow, and heal. What stands in our way are survival strategies from the past that no longer serve us but have become ingrained in our nervous systems to operate automatically and outside our awareness.
My therapeutic approach combines contemporary Western psychotherapy, Eastern mindfulness practices, and the most current findings of modern neuroscience to help you tap into your innate ability to heal and grow.
My therapy is also humanistic and relational. That means I believe helping you access your true self will help you lead your most fulfilling life. I also strive to create a collaborative, supportive relationship based on respect and compassion for you.
Together, we will explore what’s working in your life, what isn’t, and build a solid foundation that will help you discover yourself and achieve the life and relationships you want.
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Specializations.
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Sometimes our emotions can feel overwhelming. Other times, we might feel numb. Together, we will expand your capacity to regulate uncomfortable feelings and cultivate positive ones.
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The human being is an addicted animal. Although some addictions cause more damage than others, we all have habits that sacrifice our long-term happiness for immediate relief. I’ve spent 6 years working in in-patient rehab, so whether your addictions are substances, behaviors, or people, I’m trained in the most current methods of recovery.
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One event may impact us so deeply we fear we might never be the same, but not all trauma is obvious. Ongoing hardships, especially when we were young, can also have a significant impact on our ability to thrive. I’m trained in EMDR, the Hakomi Method, Internal Family Systems, and other mind/body methods of healing pain from the past.
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Whether your patterns are causing problems or you want to grow your ability to connect in mind, body, and heart, I can help. I’ve also developed a sex-positive program for managing compulsive sexual behaviors.
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Many people with chronic pain spend years looking for a structural explanation that fully accounts for what they’re experiencing. Sometimes there is one. Often there isn’t.
Research suggests a significant percentage of people with chronic pain are misdiagnosed or are experiencing pain maintained more by central nervous system patterns than by ongoing tissue damage. In other words, the central nervous system can become stuck in an activated state, changing how the body processes sensation and pain signals from the brain.
This doesn’t mean the pain is “in your head.” It means the system that interprets and regulates pain can become stuck in a high-alert pattern, especially after stress, illness, injury, or long periods of pushing through.
Together, we can work towards
Settling chronic bracing and hyper-vigilance in the nervous system
Restoring steadiness and safety in the body
Reducing isolation and shame that often accompany and magnify long-term pain
Shifting how pain is anticipated, fought, and endured
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Have you ever found yourself caught in a cycle of worry, doubt, or "what if" thinking that you couldn't seem to let go of? Maybe you repeatedly check, seek reassurance, mentally review situations, or feel driven to do things a certain way to feel safe or certain.
I help clients understand the underlying fears and protective strategies that keep OCD cycles going while developing new ways of responding to uncertainty. Together, we'll work to interrupt habituated patterns in the brain, reduce the power of intrusive thoughts, and build the capacity to tolerate discomfort without relying on compulsions. Over time, this creates greater flexibility, confidence, and freedom to make choices based on what matters most to you rather than what OCD demands.
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No two people are alike, but some experiences are unique to members of the LGBTQ+ community. As a sex-positive, LGBTQ+ affirmative psychotherapist, it gives me joy to give back to my community.
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No form of relationship works equally well for everyone. Although monogamy works great for some, others don’t want to limit sex to one person for the rest of their lives. Exploring what arrangement works best in your relationship can be a sensitive process. I can help you navigate it so you can maximize trust and minimize insecurity, jealousy, and hurt feelings.
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Therapy is for more than just solving problems. We can also take a journey of self exploration that will help you connect to authentic purpose and grow in mind, body, and spirit.
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Common Western thinking separates the mind and body. However, a growing body of research shows us that no aspect of our experience is purely mental or purely physical (Weiss et al, 2015). I’m trained in the Hakomi Method, a mind/body approach that deepens therapy beyond insight and words into direct experience. I also assist Hakomi trainings for other therapists.
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Have you ever felt two different ways about the same thing? Maybe one part of you wants to take a risk while another part wants to stay safe. Or one part wants closeness while another part is afraid of getting hurt.
Parts Work (IFS) is based on the idea that we all have different aspects of ourselves with different needs and perspectives. When these inner parts conflict, it can lead to distress and unwanted patterns. IFS helps us understand the different feelings, motivations, and protective strategies that exist within us, especially when they seem to be at odds with one another.
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Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a technique to help put emotionally charged memories in the past where they belong. I’m trained in attachment-focused EMDR through the Parnell Institute.
