Treatment

First and foremost, I work from a trauma perspective - reflecting on past experiences and how it shapes our relationships and present-day life. I can offer you a better understanding and education of your body's nervous system, because the mind and body are connected, and trauma is held within our bodies. My goal is to work with you on improving self-awareness, understanding your automatic reactions, and having direct coping tools based on your specific experiences and mental health symptoms, so you can enjoy the present and feel more free and in control.

I also use psychodynamic interventions to explore unmet needs and unconscious desires you’re trying to meet with your actions, "Gestalt" perspectives to target shame and any "unfinished business" holding you back, motivational interviewing to better understand your goals and what the barriers are, as well as CBT coping tools, with a heavy emphasis on mindfulness, anxiety reduction, and reframing thought patterns and perspective. 

Most importantly during counseling sessions I give you the space and time to get any current worries off your mind - I try to always work from a place of patience, empathy, and flexibility as I've been in the client's chair and I know exactly how important it is to feel free to talk without being judged.

See below for the different issues I am well-versed in and how I generally approach these concerns.

As someone who openly identifies within the LGBTQ+ community myself, I see first hand why many people do not feel it is a "community" for them; the specific expectations and pressures, body-shaming, trauma, homophobia, transphobia, gender expression insecurities, relationship dynamics, racism, sexual insecurities, and family and spirituality/religion-related issues are common. I am passionate to help members of my community to feel less alone and find that sense of belonging and understanding that we all deserve, and to spread positivity within our diverse community. 

Do you "over think" a lot; especially about the past or future?

Constantly having racing thoughts about "what if" scenarios, feeling worried, trouble sleeping, and/or feeling fearful or panicked often? Intrusive thoughts that can make it difficult to concentrate and remember things? Or maybe you suffer from nightmares and flashbacks from difficult experiences. 

I can offer practical tools to help you have more calm moments and feel more in control of your reactions, so you can sort out different solutions with clarity. Let's start the healing journey and explore possibilities to live a calmer life, in the present.

Our childhood / relationship / traumatic experiences in combination with the social and cultural pressures we all face - it's no wonder we often "don't feel good enough" or "trapped." And for many of us, this pressure can cause us to be really hard on ourselves.

Let's explore different perspectives, options, and coping tools to navigate what you've been told, and explore your sense of "self" and who you want to be. There are other possibilities to explore, ones that include you feeling more free, in control of your choices, and empowered.

Trouble saying "no" to people?

Do you sometimes feel like you're making decisions based on other people's opinions/wants/needs over your own? Are your feelings and needs getting neglected?

Or maybe talking about feelings is just really difficult for you, as it is for most people. It's common to avoid communication all together because it just feels like conflict. 

Honest communication does not always have to be associated with conflict; I invite you to be open-minded and let's discuss what it is you're needing to communicate, and how we can effectively do that. Your needs are just as important as everyone else's.