— relational

My approach is different from some other forms of psychotherapy that you may be familiar with. I trust that humans are inherently wired to connect. This means that we are never not in relation to others. Individual experience does matter, but it is always affected by relationships. Every person deserves the opportunity to live out their potential at the same moment, which requires awareness of others. Freedom and compassion go hand in hand.

— non-pathologizing

I work from a collaborative model, meaning that you are the expert in your own life and my job is to partner with you in this therapy process. My primary goal is to connect you more fully with inner resources for healing that you already possess. I can guide you toward new skills for deeper connection and self-awareness and provide insight around other areas of exploration for whole-body wellness, but psychiatric diagnoses and interventions are not typically part of that work. When needed for certain sexual concerns, I work closely with other medical providers, but in general, identifying thoughts, feelings, experiences, and attitudes around sexuality come first.

— trauma-informed

Recent advances in brain science indicate that none of us are truly exempt from trauma. In particular, early experiences become embedded in memory and impact relationships much later in life. The great news is that we hold incredible potential for healing. Each of us has a core, undamaged self and an internal system organized around protecting vulnerability. We are whole and unbroken, and we each have the inner resources to cope with inevitable threats to vulnerabilities. We also often need help accessing the wisdom and compassion that is always available to us, because these so often become overwhelmed by other protective parts. This is inevitable when trauma occurs: vulnerable parts get buried to avoid further hurt, and these layers of protection can hijack the body’s system. You may be more familiar with alternative perspectives, where this process is viewed in terms of psychological diagnosis such as a mood disorder. While physiological issues can certainly contribute to psychological distress, I view people holistically and integratively rather than from a purely medical model.

— anti-oppressive

I’m all about “power with” rather than “power over.” Healthy, equitable relationships are mutually supportive of the needs and interests of each person, but systemic injustice often gets in the way. Marginalized individuals in American society are often expected to accommodate the needs of others, and emotional and organizational labor is radically undervalued. In my work, I’m actively engaged in tracking the ways these issues show up, since we inherit ways of relating which reinforce imbalances even when we want to avoid perpetuating harm. This does not prevent me from holding each person with compassion, and you can expect gentle challenge regarding hurtful behaviors at the same time as empathy for the vulnerability held by each person. I invite courageous communication that honors individual needs as well as supports mutual responsibility in relationships.

— integrative

Therapy models that inform my work include Internal Family Systems (IFS), and the IFS-based couple/partner therapy model Intimacy From the Inside Out (IFIO), Socio-Emotional Relationship Therapy, interpersonal neurobiology, narrative therapy, and existential humanistic therapy. Depending on your interest level, I am happy to provide more resources for understanding the theories behind these models. Just ask.