Services
- Individual
About My Clients
My clients tend to be smart, sensitive, caring adults who also feel stuck with making inner changes. They have an excellent intellectual understanding of the problems but tend to fall back into the same old patterns. They carry other people's problems and worries and have a bad habit of beating themselves up, struggling with beliefs like "I’m not good enough." "I’m a failure." "I should have known better."
What I Specialize In
I've been using EMDR in practice since 2010. You may think of EMDR as a trauma treatment. But trauma doesn't have to involve violence to impact you. It could be the cruel words of a bully, an ex, or an unkind boss that linger in your psyche and hold you back when you want to feel better. EMDR is scientifically proven to reduce the distress tied to disturbing memories. EMDR benefits individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, and stress-related disorders linked to adverse life experiences. In plain English: you will be able to think of the memory without getting upset, and shed the negative beliefs that are associated with it. The first component of EMDR is establishing a "safe place" which almost all clients report finding relaxing and peaceful. Once you are able to ground yourself, we can move on to addressing memories that cause you distress. One technique is to start with a less distressing memory so you can get an idea of how the process works.
Why I Became a Therapist
When I experienced therapy as a teen I felt the professionals were talking AT me. They weren't listening to me. They were just telling me what to do (and what not to do). At the time I was engaged in risky behavior but felt that no one was trying to understand why. I started taking psychology classes in community college at the age of 15 (yes, I'm a nerd). I was determined not to be like the adults around me. I carry that with me today: the desire to understand and not shame or wag fingers.