My Approach

Anti-Oppressive Lens: I apply an anti-oppressive lens to my therapy practice and am culturally responsive, anti-racist, and LGBTQ affirmative. This means that I strive to be accepting and inclusive of all lived experiences and will consider how aspects of your identity influence your struggles and your strengths. I also bring an understanding that various forms of oppression and marginalization exist in our society, whether that be based in race, sex, size, class, culture, religion, disability, sexual orientation, etc. More often than not, aspects of our identity and experiences of oppression are important to our struggles and our strengths. For example, perfectionism and low-self esteem may exist in the context of being marginalized or excluded. Anxiety, depression, or lack of connection with our creativity may be stem in part from expectations from family, friends, or aspects of society or culture that we do not resonate with. Alternatively, some of us find ourselves within position(s) of power based upon our situation or identity, and experience guilt, stress, or confusion about how to negotiate this while still living into our values. In my own time, I engage in critical self-reflection about how my identity and lived experience may influence how I show up as your therapist.

Sometimes, we want to work with a therapist that shares aspects of our lived experience or identity. This is understandable. If at any point in our meeting you decide that this is important to you, and you aren’t getting what you need from our sessions, I would provide you with referrals, answer your questions, or be receptive to an open discussion in order to best meet your needs.

The Creative Process: No matter your background, I approach therapy with the belief that we are all inherently creative. Creativity is the process of bringing what is inside of us into the physical world. It is what allows us to change or to generate something new. No matter the modality, I use my understanding of the creative process to help your imagination, your daydreams, your hopes, and your desires clue you into what you want and need and, in some cases, become tangible.

Along with this foundation, I draw from a variety of therapeutic modalities:

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Oftentimes, our attempts to push away or eliminate pain or discomfort only makes it consume us more. Through skills and techniques rooted in mindfulness and acceptance, ACT can help you take a more flexible approach to how you respond to life’s challenges, and act in ways that align with what’s most important to you.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): Balance acceptance of what is with action toward what could be, and learn skills for mindfulness, improving relationships, regulating emotions, and coping with distress.

Psychodynamic Approach: Develop awareness of unconscious patterns that drive your behavior. Bringing what is unconscious to conscious awareness can provide a foundation for gaining a deeper self-understanding, developing goals, and making changes to your behavior and ultimately to your life.

Narrative Therapy: How we live our lives is often based upon the stories that we tell ourselves, even when we aren’t aware of it. These may come from the influence of others, society, or aspects of our history. Narrative Therapy is a non-blaming approach that invites you to examine the stories that have shaped your life. Through various aspects of “re-authoring” these stories, you can expand your sense of who you are and the possibility of what could be.

Yoga, Mindfulness, and Breathwork: When we are anxious, stressed, depressed, or overwhelmed, this manifests not only in our minds, but in our bodies. Yoga, mindfulness, and breath work are all ways to become more present and tuned into our needs and to the world around us, as well as ground us in our physical bodies in order to regain a sense of balance and control. When we are attuned and present, we are able to attend more meaningfully to our lives.