My Approach / Style

 

Therapy is about connection. This is why I believe that humor and compassion are just some of the ingredients that help bring awareness and a healthier mindset to anyone seeking to make even subtle change. My style or approach is about connection, about understanding the uniqueness of every individual that comes into therapy. This is the essence of what it means to feel hear, understood, and valued. My style of therapy has been regarded as real, honest, caring, helpful, funny, understanding, and compassionate.

I am grounded in a number of theories for a variety of issues and know that there is no one theory or therapy that fits everyone. Truth be told, there are over 400 types of therapy. I’m good, but not that good. However, when we get to know one another and take genuine interest in the process, we open up the channels to vulnerability that facilitate growth. That is the magic of therapy. 

I believe we can change how we look at events from the past and we can change our perspective to better deal with frustrations by turning them into helpful guides to navigate other challenges in our present and future.

From the longest study on human happiness, Robert Waldinger, director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development said, “The clearest message that we get from this 75-year study is this: Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period.” On the other side of that coin is the understanding that we also need to be the best versions of ourselves. Therapy is about refining and re-tuning what is already there or a part of us, and we are simply working together to learn how to better adapt to the situations that sometimes throw us out of our comfort zone.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who’s been practicing psychotherapy since 2008. My areas of expertise include working with:

· Trauma
· PTSD and Traumatic Loss
· Compassion Fatigue
· Burnout
· Anxiety and Depression
· Stress Reduction and Anger Management 
· Life Transition and Adjustment Issues
· Relationship and Couples Counseling

I work in Individual, Couples, and Family Therapy. Adults from a variety of backgrounds have come to me in my private practice with issues stemming from relationships, trauma, depression, and anxiety. I have also helped those who’ve experienced:

· Mood-Related Issues
· Couples Counseling and Relationship Issues
· Grief and Loss
· Personal Growth, Self-Esteem, Self-Worth, and Efficacy Issues
· Traumatic Recovery and Post-Traumatic Growth Issues
· Men’s Health Issues

I am certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which help us move through trauma and better understand how to get back to a familiar place from which we can grow.

My practice is continuously grounded in theory, research, and new techniques through my own trainings, along with work as an Adjunct Faculty member in the Graduate School of Education and Psychology at Pepperdine University.

Therapy is best when the exploration is consistent and stable. As a therapist, I provide structure, help to define goals, facilitate a treatment plan, and create a safe space to share emotions. It is through connection, though, that we can feel heard and valued in the therapeutic environment.

It is my goal to provide a relaxed atmosphere, to bring awareness to our capacity to handle change, to gain an understanding of our strengths, and to provide some humor along the way.