I try to see the whole person, not just their problems.
My Approach
I believe that therapy is the most effective way to develop understanding and insight around our struggles, wounds, and hurts. Using trauma-informed, cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic, internal family systems, expressive arts, mindfulness, and attachment-oriented approaches, I support clients in exploring the experiences, thought patterns, behaviors, and relationship issues that drive our mental health struggles. For many individuals, early adulthood provides the first opportunity to process and recover from childhood traumas, adversity, and stressors. It can be overwhelming, but therapy can help.
While it can feel like trauma, hardship, and stress are everywhere, through our work together, you will learn to see and feel that safety, resilience, and relief are also everywhere.
Expressive Arts Therapy
Don’t want to talk about it? At a loss for words?
We have options and therapy is still for you.
Regardless of age, it can be difficult to work through intense feelings and stressful experiences using words alone. Given this common 'road block,' in addition to using traditional talk-based therapies, I frequently integrate use of trauma-informed expressive arts therapies as well as mindfulness into my work with folks to help them ‘feel better.’ So when you’re feeling ‘stuck,’ I may invite you to let art, crafts, poetry, journaling, drawing, mandalas, painting, pastels, dramatic expression, rhythmic movement, etc. do the talking for you.
But I’m not an artist…
That’s okay. Neither, am I! And that’s not what it’s about. It’s not about making something pretty. Rather, it’s about putting a color, a visual, or some other physical expression or sensation to an experience or feeling. One common response to trauma and stress is loss of passion, spark, creativity, and playfulness. Our brains become so focused on surviving, thinking we’re not safe, even when we are. Our thoughts and bodies forget how to thrive. Fortunately, creative expression can be a powerful tool in bridging the gap between surviving and thriving, healing and growing, and ‘knowing better’ and ‘feeling better.’
Not sure if it’s for you?
That makes sense. Art is intimidating and we’ve often been sent messages in the life that art is only for ‘artists.’ But art is human right and is for everybody. If you’re thinking expressive arts therapy isn’t for you, that’s totally cool and I’m ready to meet you where you’re at. There’s no wrong or right way to tell your story, other than what feels ‘right’ to you.