My Approach

Overview

Therapy works best when clients feel seen and heard and have open communication with their therapist. To this end, my practice of therapy is:

  • Collaborative.

    I see therapy as a partnership. You are the expert on your life. I listen carefully to learn who you are and offer tools, skills, ideas, and information to help you advance your therapeutic goals in your life outside therapy.

  • Strengths-based.

    Everyone has a unique set of talents, skills, knowledge, and connections that they use in shaping their life. When you build on your strengths in therapy, you tap into a powerful resource for change: the things that motivate, interest, and inspire you. I collaborate with my clients to incorporate their strengths in making changes that they desire in their lives.

  • Trauma-informed.

    Trauma comes in many forms and affects everyone differently. I work according to principles of trauma-informed care. This means that I prioritize safety, choice, communication, and collaboration with clients in addressing traumatic experiences that they wish to address.

  • Systems-oriented.

    From the time we’re born, we’re part of a social system that we affect and that affects us. I listen deeply to learn how different elements of clients’ social systems have affected them. Together, we look at ways to build their circle of support to power change outside therapy.

  • Integrative.

    I individualize care for each client. I draw from a range of therapeutic modalities, including humanistic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, expressive arts, and family systems.

  • Culturally sensitive.

    I see culture as the expression of values, beliefs, and ways of life rooted in a person’s membership in different groups. As a culturally sensitive therapist, I listen for clients’ experience of life across multiple dimensions of their identity, including race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, spirituality, socioeconomic status, ability, and life stage.

 

People I Work With

I work primarily with pre-adolescents, adolescents, and adults who are struggling with anxiety, depression, loss, and interpersonal conflict. Their reasons for reaching out are unique and varied — it might be a life transition, a traumatic event or events, or the accumulated stress of navigating unsupportive systems. I often work with clients who are exploring questions about one or more of the following: gender identity, neurodiversity, and/or immigration and acculturation stress.

 

How I Work

My work with clients typically proceeds as follows:

  • Step 1: 20-minute free consultation. I’ll ask for an overview of what you’re seeking in therapy and answer your questions about my practice. I may offer you referrals if my services are not a fit.

  • Step 2: Assessment. If we decide to move forward, I’ll collaborate with you on a careful assessment of your needs. In my experience, a thorough assessment lays the foundation for direction and progress in therapy. I may ask you to complete on online questionnaire about yourself and one or more standard screeners related to the issues that you wish to address. I’ll explain their purpose as it relates to your situation.

  • Step 3: Goal-setting. We’ll review the results of the assessment together to identify and prioritize your goals and create your individualized therapy plan.

  • Step 4: Therapy. As we work together, I’ll ask you about how things are going. We’ll revisit your goals periodically and make adjustments as needed.

  • Step 5: Ending. Having an intentional ending is an important part of therapy. When you’re ready to end, we’ll review progress, help you plan for addressing future challenges, and say goodbye.