Rhianna Beasley Psy.D.

I specialize in treating complex trauma which can include difficulty controlling your emotions, distortions in your sense of self (like feeling worthless or bad), difficulty trusting people, feelings of emptiness, trouble setting boundaries with people, hopelessness and suicidal thoughts, identity issues, physical symptoms (like headaches or stomach problems), and dissociation.

Most people who have been diagnosed with a personality disorder have had repeated childhood experiences of being put down or invalidated, made to feel bad or worthless, or witnessing domestic violence or abuse. These kinds of experiences lead to difficulties knowing who you are, expressing and regulating emotional responses, navigating relationships, and coping with stress. We work in therapy to address the underlying patterns people want to change and to increase self-compassion.

Dr. Beasley has extensive experience treating psychosis across the life span. The earliest stages of psychosis present unique challenges for adolescents and young adults. People often struggle to make sense of a new diagnosis, figure out what’s real and what’s not, find their identities, navigate social relationships, deal with stigma, and maintain or re-enter work or school. Treatment can help manage symptoms, reduce distressing feelings, get back to work/school, and improve relationships.

My approach to trauma is strengths-based and individualized. Part of trauma work in my practice involves exploring how earlier experiences contribute to maintaining trauma-related symptoms to make new meaning of them and break maladaptive cycles. This insight-oriented approach is balanced out with skills-based interventions. We also discuss how trauma is manifested in the body and engage in body-based trauma work.

I offer couples therapy with a focus on opening communication, expressing difficult feelings, and reigniting intimacy. Couples often find that having a neutral, compassionate therapist in the room can help them say and hear things that need to be said, explore patterns contributing to relationship problems, and create a space for new and healthier interactions.

Psychodynamic therapy is the primary orientation underlying my approach. It is a kind of talk therapy where we work together to help you better understand your thoughts and feelings, how you relate to people, and how your past experiences contribute to your present and future. The therapist and client talk openly about their relationship. Sometimes the therapist’s interventions involve making observations about interactions in session and discussing them.