I have been a therapist in private practice for 20 years, working mostly with adults who are struggling with anxiety, depression, PTSD, relationship issues, unhealthy behaviors and life choices.
My approach blends science about how the brain works with concepts about how the mind works.
I begin with the understanding that we all entered this world with a healthy real self. We came off the assembly line just fine: curious, ready to attach to others, and very much our unique selves. As we grow, we have the potential to embody all the attributes of that healthy self: compassion, creativity, calm, confidence and acceptance.
Then life happens. We might start to hide vulnerable parts of us that aren’t accepted or don’t feel safe. We might develop other parts of ourselves to cope with our families, or school, or other people. Our real self can get hidden under these protector parts. Different parts of us argue with each other. For instance, one part might want to be productive and another part procrastinates. We become polarized.
Also, the parts of us that are carrying burdens of fear, shame, anger or other feelings can get pushed away and never get healed. We might develop all kinds of symptoms, like insecurity, depression, anxiety, self-blame, anger, dissociation, unhealthy behaviors and even physical symptoms.
And, sometimes, very bad things happen to us. We often can’t sort out or heal the terror, humiliation, guilt, or other emotions. That's because when things happen that are too overwhelming or too traumatizing, or if we are too young to cope, the brain doesn't store the memories in a healthy way. The memories, thoughts, feelings and physical reactions get stuck, unprocessed, in survival memory centers like the limbic system and the hindbrain where often self-talk and talk therapy just can't reach.
Our work is to heal the effects of hurtful relationships, low self-esteem, self-hate, insecurity, adverse life events and trauma.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based psychotherapy that can help individuals reprocess trauma and the causes of why we’re stuck or traumatized so that we can live in healthy and adaptive ways.
Click here to learn more about EMDR
IFS (Internal Family Systems) is an integrative psychotherapy that focuses on the inner relationships between our parts so we can more fully reconnect to that healthy real self we were born with.
Click here to learn more about IFS
I blend these two approaches.
You may come in for a first meeting to ask any questions about how we might work together, how to resolve what is stuck, and for you to decide if it’s a good fit and you feel comfortable with me. The first consultation in $50. My regular after that fee is $195.