My Approach to Counseling
My primary goal when meeting with new clients is to establish a strong connection, making them feel safe and genuinely cared for. My approach to counseling pulls heavily from the psychodynamic theory of object relations but also integrates techniques from emotion-focused and mindfulness-based practices. I am an insight-oriented psychologist who values building awareness of one's intrapersonal & interpersonal patterns over behavioral changes alone. With greater awareness of how the past has shaped your present, I can help empower you to change your future. I think of myself as "dive deep" therapist who wants to get to the root of your concerns, not just manage symptoms.
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Importantly, I am committed to providing multiculturally competent counseling. I believe being multiculturally competent is an ongoing process, not an outcome, and I strive to provide services that are affirming and inclusive of diversity. I am welcoming to clients of all backgrounds and beliefs. The individuals I work with often enjoy exploring different aspects of their identities and how their unique experiences in the world affect their well-being and emotional functioning.
If religion is an important part of your identity, I will happily integrate this into our work together; however, I do not identify as a counselor of any specific faith.
Early in therapy, I will assess your coping skills and work to help you strengthen healthy coping strategies as necessary. Often times, individuals have developed unhealthy coping strategies such as dissociation, self-injury, thoughts of death, substance abuse, and binge-eating as a way to manage distressing or overwhelming feelings and experiences. I will ask directly about these areas of your life in a nonjudgmental and open manner.
While my approach is overall focused on supporting clients, people often say that they enjoy the way I gently challenge them in therapy, pushing them to be the best version of themselves possible. One of my favorite things to hear in counseling is when a client comes back to session saying: "I thought of you over the weekend and couldn't wait to share this, I knew you'd be so proud!"
YES! I will celebrate your successes but also be with you in your times of defeat. I am not here to "fix" you, because you are not broken. You are healing, that is different. You may certainly feel beaten down, however, and it is my hope we can work together to remind you of your life's meaning and value. If you feel like I would be a good fit, please reach out to me. I look forward to hearing from you!