services
Therapy for Anxiety and Stress
Many of the clients that I work with name anxiety and stress as one of the reasons they are seeking therapy. And rightfully so, we live in a world where anxiety seems to be ever present. I believe that you deserve to live a a life where anxiety does not have control of your day. I can’t promise that you will never feel anxious again (everyone does and will feel anxious about something!), in our work together I will give you the tools and understanding to be able to manage the anxiety so it doesn’t get in the way of you experiencing the life you want for yourself.
I concurrently focus on two ways of dealing with anxiety. The first is to support you in developing concrete skills that you can put into practice to manage your anxiety and feel relief day to day. The second approaches anxiety at a deeper level. I believe it is important to understand where anxiety comes from and the role that it plays in your life. Many clients, when looking deeper at anxiety, realize that anxiety developed in response to circumstances in their life and that it has played a role in how they function. Uncovering and understanding your relationship with anxiety will help you get underneath the surface of anxiety and create lasting change.
Therapy for Parents
I have over 14 years of experience working with children, families, and parents in a variety of settings. I recognize how complex and nuanced parenting can be and the importance of parents having adequate support and information.
Perhaps you realized that you would like to do things differently with your children than your parents did with you. Or maybe you’re confused why your children aren’t responding to your parenting in the way that you would like them to. Maybe your home feels like everyone is walking on eggshells, screen time is taking over and conflict is popping up. Perhaps it feels like parenting has not been the experience that you were hoping it would be. This can feel lonely and isolating, and I’m here to help.
I provide therapy for parents who are looking to find healthy ways to relate to and communicate with their partners and their children. I use an emotionally focused lens, attachment theory, and a person centered model in my work. I will help you form healthy relationships with your children, decrease arguments and conflict, and work through the ever changing parent-child relationship.
Parents-To-Be and New Parents
As a new(ish) mother myself, I know first hand the excitement and fear that comes with welcoming your new baby. There is so much to consider, so many decisions to make, and a huge sense of responsibility plopped down into your lap.
Parents today are often bombarded with information and it can create some anxiety. In our work together I will help you sort through the avalanche of information that comes at you, prioritizing your mental health so you can make informed decisions for you and your family. Learning how to manage this anxiety when your child is young is a skill that will be helpful for the next 18 years (or more!).
Having a new baby can also take a toll on your relationship. Going from 2 to 3 or more is a big transition. I will help you, and your partner, learn how to communicate, find a division of labor that feels fair, and set boundaries that protect your family unit. New parents often find it helpful to talk about how to manage household tasks, relationships with in laws, social media boundaries, returning to work, and how to continue to prioritize a healthy relationship with each other. Some clients also see this as a time to dive in to their own experiences growing up and how that impacts their parenting philosophy.
I’m happy to help you do this work at any point in your parenting journey, but it can be very helpful to start before your new addition arrives. I will help support you in being able to bring your new baby home to an environment that feels loving, calm, and supportive.
Social Media and Screen Time
Almost every parent I work with has came in reporting issues with screens in their home. They struggle to get their children to transition to screens to other activities, they report melt downs and fights at bedtime, constant begging and bargaining for more time, and how their time together is overshadowed by ever present screens. Many parents feel as if screens are the only power they have, using screens to bargain or bribe their children to get through the day.
It doesn’t have to be like this. I can help you create an environment that is not ruled by the phone, that is full of connection and time together, and provides a foundation for healthy screen time and social media use. I will work with you to understand the role screen time plays, how to teach your children (and yourself ) to regulate your emotions in healthy ways, and create an environment that promotes positive mental health.
Worrying about your child’s technology use is valid. Screen time has been associated with increased levels of anxiety, depression, and emotional dysregulation. Learning how to have a healthy and positive relationship with screens is necessary. Screens, the internet, and social media aren’t going way so it’s important to learn at a young age (or now for adults!) how to manage the risks and rewards of engaging in online behaviors.
Intergenerational Parenting Concerns
When asked, many parents will say that they had a great childhood. Upon exploring their childhood a little deeper, most will say that they do not want to parent their children in the same way that they were parented. Both of these things can be true. We can have appreciation for the good parents of our childhood and realize that we want to give our children something different. My role as a therapist is to help you understand how your childhood years, good or bad, impacted the way that you interact in the world and with those around you, and how you can create the healthy, happy, and positive childhood you want for your children.
Adoption Therapy
Adoption is complex. Joy, pain, loss, and love all occurring at the same time. Adoptive parents, biological parents, and children are all profoundly impacted by their experience with adoption. I have worked with many adoptive, birth, and foster families and enjoy supporting them through the process. At times, many adoptive or foster parents feel lost, their child may be experiencing things that they did not expect, or attempts to support them seem to be falling short. Working with an adoption and trauma competent therapist can help parents navigate the emotional and behavioral dysregulation that their children experience. I use a trauma informed lens and attachment theory to help parents develop the skills and understanding they need to support their adoptive or foster child.
Therapy for children & adolescents
In my work with children and adolescents, I support children in developing better emotional regulation skills, improving peer relationships, managing anxiety and building confidence. I have completed specialized trauma focused training to use EMDR with children.
When working with children I am a firm believer that change is rooted in the family. In my work with children, I require parents to be active participants, providing them the knowledge and tools they need to be able to support their child in reaching their goals. I am a firm believer that a child's ability to see change is strongly tied to their parent's willingness to engage in the process. This means parents will sometimes attend sessions alone or with their child.
While children might initially be hesitant about therapy, I find them to be some of the most open minded and engaged clients! I spend time with each child making sure they feel safe, valued, and supported. Therapy should be a welcoming space so I incorporate room for play, exploration, and creativity. Children are encouraged to express themselves in different ways, whether it be in the sand tray, through make believe and art, or other creative activities.
I enjoy working with adolescents and teenagers. Quickly, adults can forget the experience of being a teen. I approach all my teen clients with curiosity, interest, and open mindedness. I value getting to know them, their interests, their beliefs, and their concerns. So often we need to feel heard and in the years where there is an ongoing negotiation for independence and navigating identity it can be helpful to have a therapist for support. I frequently work with teenagers on managing their anxiety, finding ways to communicate with their families, and understanding their experience with themselves, social media, their family, and their peers.
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence based therapy for treating trauma, PTSD, anxiety disorders, depression, OCD, phobias, and more.
I am an EMDRIA certified therapist. In addition to taking the full EMDRIA EMDR training program, I have invested in advanced clinical consultation to become a certified provider. I have also taken additional advanced trainings in using EMDR with adults as well as children and teens.
Additionally, I am an EMDR consultant in training. I support clinicians who are working on developing their EMDR skills. I consider myself a life long learner and have found that to truly understand a form you have to see it, do it, and teach it!
Therapy Approaches
SAfe and Sound Protocol
The safe and sound protocol (SSP) is an evidenced based tool for helping your nervous system connect to a sense of safety. Emerging research has shown efficacy with helping clients with emotional regulation, anxiety, trauma, and other mental health concerns. Clinical trials on SSP have indicated that it is a successful tool for children with autism spectrum disorder.
SSP uses filtered music to assist the nervous system in regulation, allowing clients to move from flight or fight to a connected and engaged state. SSP can be used in conjunction with other therapies or as a stand alone treatment.
I am a SSP certified provider. I use SSP with children, teens, and adults. I have found that incorporating SSP into EMDR and other trauma focused work helps support clients in reaching their goals.
Trauma iNFORMED thERAPY
Through my clinical work and research I have seen how our early experiences with our family, environment, and other contextual factors shapes the way we operate in and interact with the people and world around us.
I understand that trauma can show up in different ways and in different times of life. My work is guided by this understanding. The approaches that I use in therapy is rooted in the idea that a deeper understanding of ourself and our circumstances is needed to find a pathway forward.
Those with who have experienced many stressful events may need the support and resources to be able to work through their past. I use a variety of mindfulness exercises, a body based understanding of the physiological effects of trauma, and a theoretical understanding development when working with clients.