The Approach I Take
I believe that we are capable of making changes in our lives. All too often, we feel resigned that our habits and patterns are carved in stone forever, or that something is just a part of who we are. Believe me: change is possible--I see it happen every day. However, we often need tools and support in order to make change happen. Therapy provides a place to reflect on where we've been, and to open up to the potential of who we want to be. It's an extraordinary and exciting journey.
I take a primarily psychodynamic approach to psychotherapy. I incorporate pieces from different psychological theories and orientations, often drawing from Jungian, Humanistic, attachment-based, Somatic, and Existential theories of psychology. I also utilize tools and theories from mindfulness-based therapy. I work with people to explore their experience of being in the world and help them to gain insight into the meaning in their lives. Often, different parts within ourselves are in conflict, and cause internal suffering (which may manifest as something like anxiety, depression, conflicts with others, etc.). I will work with you in a supportive way to bring what has been unconscious into awareness and consciousness. Together, we will examine how certain patterns or behaviors came into existence within you, and will question whether you’d like to keep them around in the present or if you’d like change. I find many people would like tools to help them incorporate these changes. If you are willing, we can also incorporate art therapy into sessions. In addition, I have been trained in Lifespan Integration therapy, which is a helpful modality to treat a number of issues, clear trauma, and help a person to be more cohesive overall.
I specialize in working with people in LGBT/Queer communities, and I have experience helping people gain clarity regarding gender issues. I believe that our binary society can cause us confusion, discomfort, unease and even suffering in regards to our gender and sexuality.
I also have specialized experience and training working with people who have experienced trauma and survivors of sexual abuse. I take a safe and structured approach to working through and organizing traumatic experiences. I draw from a number of treatment modalities and tools here, though I find Lifespan Integration therapy particularly helpful to work to clear trauma. I believe that we are absolutely able to heal from traumatic experiences once we are able to organize and metabolize the experience, and then examine our own hopes and fears around the healing process. We often do this work in stages and pieces.