individual Therapy

Being human is hard…

In childhood we may not have received the love we needed to believe we are loveable.  The acceptance necessary to feel emotionally safe may have been insufficient or absent.  We may compensate for the things we missed through adaptive behaviors aiming to soothe the hurt or protect against further pain.  While these behaviors may have helped diminish the pain we felt in our youth, in adulthood they have likely become maladaptive creating their own pain.  This often looks like loneliness and a fear of connection despite a deep desire to be seen and held.

Do you have habits that are hurting you?

Maybe you push everyone away or keep them at arms length.  Maybe soothe with food or numb with alcohol.  Whatever you do to manage your fears or suppress the suffering, I can help you unlock the pattern and find new ways of coping. Together we will unearth the roots feeding and maintaining behaviors that keep you stuck.

Do you frequently put yourself down?

Many refer to this internal voice as their Inner Critic, a part that only criticizes them. Most of us have many voices, each with a specific role. I believe that getting to know our internal families is a powerful tool for developing self-compassion, reevaluating negative self-beliefs, breaking old patterns, and creating positive change.

Maybe you believe you are broken…

I understand how life experiences may lead someone to feel that everything is hopeless, including themselves.  I have felt that way.  But I do not believe that anyone is broken or beyond repair. All you need to bring to therapy is curiosity and a desire to change. I can help you reframe and unravel the negative self-beliefs that are creating the stuckness and dissatisfaction.

Are you worried that opening up painful memories will overwhelm you?

This is a common fear. Many clients express anxiety about opening a door to long suppressed memories. This is reasonable, especially if you have a lot of trauma. My approach to therapy is trauma-informed, meaning I always proceed gently and slowly.  Together we unpack one piece at a time, sometimes just a sliver of an experience. I also teach my clients how to track what is happening in their bodies and to use that information so they don’t get overwhelmed.  Learning to listen to our inner experience is also a skill that enables us to modulate our emotions.

I am deeply excited and moved by curious and courageous clients who seek a deeper understanding of themselves.  Curiosity and Courage and two of the most important components of creating the changes necessary to feel different in your skin and different in your relationships.

Common Issues I Treat

Anxiety & Stress 

Depression & Other Mood Disorders 

(e.g. Bi-Polar Disorder, PMDD, SAD, dysthymia) 

Trauma & PTSD 

Healing Childhood Wounds 

(e.g. insecure attachment, fear of abandonment/intimacy) 

Relationship Issues 

(e.g. high conflict, low connection, emotional abuse) 

Breaking Negative Patterns 

Substance Abuse 

Grief & Loss 

Self-Harm 

Suicidal Thoughts 

Life Transitions 

(e.g. Parenthood, Retirement) 

Personal Growth & Identity 

(e.g. gender dysphoria, sexual identity) 

Self-Esteem & Confidence