Mental Health Therapy

I work with adults wishing to address a wide variety of mental health concerns. As we work together to make change in your life, I will focus on your goals, your values, and your strengths.

Approaches

Many clients ask what approach a potential therapist will take to help them address their needs. While I am not tied to any single method or theory, I do often employ tools emerging from the Internal Family Systems model. I find this helpful for so many people because it is compassionate, non-judgmental, and rests on a fundamental assumption that, within each of us, is the capacity to heal. I also draw on narrative and existential therapy, as these models emphasize autonomy and control. Further, I always respect the science of our nervous systems as explained by the polyvagal theory of trauma and threat responses.

Moving Beyond Coping

As I work with my clients, my goal is to help create a truly satisfying life. It’s not uncommon that an early stage in this work is to stabilize emotions, interrupt harmful cycles, and promote a sense of calm. This work involves gaining an understanding of what’s happening on the inside and building a toolkit for addressing the most difficult symptoms. I feel that, too often, therapy stops at this stage. While these coping skills are critical for moving forward, they are not the final goal. We keep going by shifting to a mindset of creation rather than mere stabilization. We move beyond simply tolerating life and into the realm of enjoying it!