Have you ever felt lonely, frustrated or stuck? Have you ever felt confused and unsure about where your life is headed? Have you ever felt angry, afraid or like you were facing an insurmountable situation? Most people at one time or another have felt this way. What makes it even tougher is thinking that we have to figure it out all by ourselves. Here's the secret... we don't! Successful and happy people know that they can't do it all by themselves. When we share our story and our pain in a judgement free environment, the load becomes manageable and a light emerges to help us navigate the darkness.
What was your path to becoming a mental health provider?
My journey started in childhood when I was struggling with depression. I had difficulty making friends and felt uncomfortable in my own skin. I watched as other children seemed to be happy and well-adjusted and wondered, “What is wrong with me?” In my adolescence and young adulthood, I sought out anything that could change the way I felt inside. Many of these things left me more isolated and confused. Overtime I found ways to better manage my depression and began to experience some joyful moments. My journey was challenging, but over time I learned to speak my authentic truth and stop working so hard to please others. Today, I strive to offer assistance to others wherever they are on their personal healing road.
What should someone know about working with you?
Many of my clients tell me that my approach is relaxed and conversational. I combine my intuition, life experience and professional education so we can explore together areas that are meaningful to you. I am passionate about empowering you to find your voice, create balance and set boundaries. I am Internal Family Systems informed (IFS) and have training in Brainspotting (Phase 1), Sensorimotor expressive art therapy and cognitive behavior therapy. I take a mind-body approach to working with clients. I believe that we are more than just our minds and cognitive thinking and that the experience of our body sensations affects our current perspective and interactions with others.
How do you continue learning and building new skills?
In addition to continuing education and professional development, I continue to do my own work, including having my own therapist. I believe it is important for me to be doing the things that I ask my clients to do. Personally, I gravitate toward holistic and mindfulness practices, such as meditation. I am passionate about movement, meditation, and expressive arts. Some of my influences are Betty Dobson (body-sex workshops), Cornelia Elbrecht (guided drawing/expressive arts), and Bessel van der Kolk (The Body Keeps the Score). I identify as queer and relationship non-conforming. I am sex-positive and affirming of LGBTQ+, kink/fetish and consensually non-monogamist communities.
I applaud you for having the courage to consider therapy, as I find the hardest part is often scheduling that first appt. I look forward to speaking to you and exploring the benefits of having a supportive space where you can feel heard, validated, and less isolated, even in the midst of struggle. See you soon!
