Rachel Dobkins (she/her)

In addition to potentially facing challenges in sexual and gender identity development, bullying, and safety concerns, LGBTQ individuals deserve a safe and supportive environment to explore mental health, relational, academic, and career concerns with a counselor that understands and validates your experience and empowers you to be your genuine, authentic self. As an LGBTQ affirming and queer identifying therapist, I look forward in learning more about you and partnering with you in therapy.

Anxiety symptoms include intense, excessive, and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Some folks may experience symptoms of anxiety in their body such as racing heart rate, rapid breathing/difficulty breathing, sweating, or excessive fatigue. We will utilize a cognitive behavioral therapy approach to better understand how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors contribute to your experiences of anxiety.

There may be times in our life that are more challenging than others, during which we have a hard time coping. Sometimes our reaction is stronger than expected for the type of event that occurred. Adjustment disorder is a group of symptoms, such as stress, feeling sad or hopeless, and/or physical symptoms that can occur after you go through a stressful life event. We will work together to understand how to overcome and move through these challenges impacting your individual experience.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is utilized to treat a wide range of mental health struggles. It's often the preferred type of psychotherapy because it can quickly help you identify and cope with specific challenges. Together we will explore your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and understand how to work through difficulties to improve your overall sense of well-being.

Most of the time your mind and body routinely manage new information and troubling experiences without you being aware of it. However, when you experience trauma your natural coping mechanisms can become overloaded. EMDR leverages bilateral stimulation to replicate natural processes occurring during sleep to promote healing. EMDR therapy has been used to effectively treat a wide range of mental health challenges including trauma, anxiety, and treatment resistant depression.

Existential therapy focuses on themes of personal autonomy, isolation and connectedness, experiences of loss, and the search for meaning. The approach emphasizes your capacity to make rational choices and to develop to your maximum potential. Our work together will focus on increasing self-awareness, fostering personal growth, and living your authentic truth.