My style is straightforward and nonjudgemental. I am here to support you in creating the best version of your life. We all have things to work on, some of us have past trauma or current trauma we are dealing with. Some of us are mourning serious losses, jobs, disabilities, loved ones no longer here. Let’s figure out what you need to heal. Together we will work on developing healthy coping skills, developing healthy communication skills, feeling comfortable opening up and being honest with yourself and others. If you are coming to see me, it is because you have recognized that things can be better, that you are open to looking at your own behavior, reactions and way of living and realizing that you could make some changes. We will work together to figure out what those things are. Change isn’t linear and it takes time, but it is worth it.

I enjoy working with a diverse group of clients from different cultures and backgrounds, including couples, individuals, teens and children. I welcome LGBTQ individuals and couples as well as gender non-conforming individuals. My additional areas of special interest/experience include neurodivergent individuals/couples, addiction and recovery, eating disorders, chronic pain, trauma, anxiety and depression.

A special interest of mine is providing therapeutic support to parents /caregivers raising children with disabilities. As a member of this community myself, I am passionate about supporting caregivers through the unique challenges that have been presented to us. I bring personal understanding and lived experience, helping individuals come to a place of acceptance, process grief, comprehend the future, show up in their marriages and other relationships, navigate systemic difficulties, figure out self-care techniques and be the best parent/caregiver they can be. I also work with couples in this community to support their relationships.

My approach is client centered and integrative, meaning I draw from several different modalities depending on the client and circumstances. I utilize parts work (IFS), ACT, somatic techniques, CBT, DBT, Solution Focused, Narrative Therapy and Gottman Therapy. I also incorporate mindfulness techniques in session and brings awareness to the connection between the body and the mind.

My favorite intervention is drawn from ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). It is what I call the sushi boat intervention, which is essentially a way to introduce mindfulness into someone’s everyday life. It is about observing rather than reacting. You see the salmon roll sailing by in the line of sushi boats, this intervention points out that you can just notice it, you don’t have to grab it or do anything. You see it, acknowledge it, but you do not have to react. When something happens, take a beat, see yourself noticing it and decide how you want to proceed. This can be very helpful with interpersonal relationships. It is also helpful with anxiety, for example, if you notice you are getting increasingly anxious, you can notice it, say “hello anxiety, there you are again”, but instead of reacting, which can lead to having anxiety about the anxiety, which then just keeps building, you can notice it and decide not to react. You do not have to feel any certain way about it or do anything. You can just let it pass, like the sushi boat. (Caveat: not every intervention fits every situation or person- which is why we have many to choose from).