PHILOSOPHY & APPROACH

Relationships are the foundation of our emotional experience. It’s through relationships that we experience laughter, joy, passion, and happiness, and it’s through relationships that we experience pain, anger, anxiety, and grief. At times, we feel stuck. We might become aware that our responses are creating stress or getting in the way of the lives we want to lead. My mindset is that everyone is doing the best they can with what they know. I believe healing happens when we increase our understanding of ourselves and our relationships, and use that awareness to try something different and learn from our experiences.

A key principle in my work is the belief that all behavior is adaptive. What this means, is that how we engage and respond to others is understandable in the context of our previous experiences. When someone comes into therapy, I want to know what’s hurting in their relationship with their self, and what’s hurting in their relationship with others. I take the time to understand family background, significant life experiences, and sense of community. It’s through the lens of your systems and experiences that we can make sense of your beliefs and relationship dynamics. As we continue the therapy process and learn more about your patterns, I guide through teaching, encouraging, and supporting you in experiencing yourself and others in new ways.  Over time, these new experiences help shift the way you see and engage in your world, and you will create new, healthier patterns.  

I work with youth, adults, and couples of diverse backgrounds with a variety of experiences and concerns.  Some of my specialities are multicultural issues, dating abuse and domestic violence, relational trauma, and anger issues. My style is informed by Attachment, Systemic, and Psychodynamic approaches to therapy.  My passion is working with people who want to work on the impact of their hardships so they don’t pass on the legacy of what they experienced. It is a privilege to hear people’s stories and join them in their journey towards healing and change.