Services
About My Clients
Have you ever wondered: "Is this all there is to life?", "Is life this hard for everyone?", "Am I too sensitive?", "Why can't I make myself feel better?", "Why can't I stop drinking?", "Why do relationships feel so hard and painful?", "Will anyone ever love me?", "Am I normal?". If so, our work together will help unravel the sources of your suffering and help you achieve self-understanding and awareness. From there, acceptance and/or change become possible, leading to a place of inner peace.
My Background and Approach
I work from the belief that it's okay to be who you really are, no matter how messy and broken you might feel now. And that you are deserving of love - no matter what you've been through. I always consider the 'big picture' of how you're impacted by family, friends, communities, culture and society at large. We will focus on uncovering and understanding how you got to where you are now, and then work on skills to deal with the pain of it all, and find some relief in the day to day experience of life. I pull from various theories and approaches including person-centered, trauma-informed, narrative therapy, mindful self-compassion, Buddhist philosophy, Jungian and harm reduction. I am committed to on-going professional development and intend to continue to build my skills in these areas.
My Personal Beliefs and Interests
I know that working with a therapist, on one hand, can be life-changing, and on the other hand, may not be the panacea one might hope for. I am happy to help you identify the things that will carry you through the day to day when therapy is just once a week (or less). I am not quick to jump to "fix it" mode with my clients, and spend more time on self-awareness and understanding, but will absolutely help with brain-storming and problem-solving to help you find your own sustainable way of being and living in this crazy world. I have done the hard, messy work myself and know that therapy is just one piece of the puzzle towards feeling like your best self. Loud music? Volunteering? Smash rooms? Incense and crystals? Running in the rain? Creating? Support groups? Start a business? Healing happens in many ways beyond therapy.