What do you specialize in?
I am really passionate about working with folks that are working on identity development, life transitions, and building a life worth living (even if it hasn’t felt possible for them before). As a therapist, I have specialized training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) for individuals of all ages as well as with families of adolescents and children. Often, clients that I work with are experiencing high emotion dysregulation and difficulties managing their emotions, thoughts, or behaviors, and experience feeling disconnected and feel they have difficulties forming or maintaining meaningful relationships in their lives. Many of my clients have intersectional identities and are recovering from traumatic invalidation, oppression, and other forms of trauma and grief.
What can clients expect when they first come to therapy? How would you describe a typical session with you?
A client walking through my door, whether virtual or in person, can expect our first session to focus on getting to know each other and building the start of our therapeutic relationship. I want to know my clients as a whole human, and I want to give clients a chance to know me as well. I aim to take a very unassuming and curious approach, and really value learning about how a client views themselves as a human, including their cultural identities and experiences in the world and in relationships. My hope in the first session is that clients leave feeling welcomed as they are, with an idea of how we can work together to move toward the life they want to lead.
Ongoing sessions with me involve some talking, and they also involve more interactive experiences with visual aspects and materials or activities to help engage in what is happening in the therapy room. Sometimes there is homework involved, only with the intention of helping things translate from the therapy space to the wild of real life. This applies to my work with individuals, families, and couples.
What is your personal style as a therapist?
As a therapist, I value direct communication, curiosity, compassion, and I genuinely want to form an authentic connection with any client that enters the space with me. A phrase that clients will often hear me say or talk about is “avoiding avoidance”, and clients can know and trust that we will work together to do hard things that matter to them. This usually looks like a lot of working on what is happening in the moment, in the body or in the mind. If a client wants to work on changing something like their behavior, their communication, or their thoughts, we work on that right in the moment too.
How have you seen therapy benefit your clients?
I believe that successful therapy gives clients the space to identify, define, and grow into who they are as people. The world is moving so fast around us that even just taking the time and space to slow down and focus on this work has had a great impact on clients that have come into therapy. I love sharing and reveling in the joy with clients that gain new insights, notice changes in patterns they are working on, or recognize where they are feeling more fulfilled. The therapy process allows clients to feel empowered and successful in ways meaningful to them.
What do you think are the most important considerations when looking for a therapist?
While the therapy process and the work itself may not always feel comfortable, the highest priority in my mind is finding a therapist you feel you can be yourself with — it can feel like tires are spinning rather than getting traction when a client feels they cannot truly be who they are with a therapist. You are the expert on yourself, and it’s okay to trust your gut if a relationship with a therapist doesn’t feel right. I encourage clients to reflect on if there are certain aspects of a therapist’s identity that the client values, and it can also be important to ask questions about a therapist’s clinical experiences and training.
What do you hope your clients walk away with?
My hope is that clients can walk away from our therapy with an improved connection with themselves. In my mind, this goes hand in hand with a greater acceptance of the human experience — emotions are here to stay and I promise they are not the enemy (even if it feels like it sometimes). I want clients to be able to embrace who they are with compassion and understanding, while having a strong sense of how to continue building the life they want. I also believe that a meaningful sense of accomplishment is defined by the client, and I want clients of all ages and stages to feel supported in moving toward what is meaningful to them.