Therapy should never be formulaic. You have your own unique story and it’s important that our work together draws on your distinct strengths, personality, and culture. I really want to get to know the full you. I believe that a strong relationship between us is an essential ingredient in making therapy a positive experience for you. As part of building our relationship, I will show up in the room as my authentic self, and I often draw on my own lived experiences. It’s essential we build rapport and trust before any real therapy can begin.

One of the most important parts of my role is holding space for you, in which you can be vulnerable and authentically express yourself. All of your emotions are welcome in this space, even the ones you try to hide from others, such as insecurity, rage, or jealousy. I’m a depth-oriented therapist, meaning that I want to learn about your unconscious patterns, why they came exist in the first place, and how they show up at the surface, such as through your style of interacting with others, your defenses, and your triggers. We’ll also work together to understand how your past has influenced your present self by exploring your attachment style, the messages you received from your parents during childhood, and all the various “parts” of yourself that developed while you grew up. The information we learn from this process can illuminate the deeper you - your relational patterns, how you derive your sense of self, your survival strategies, and much more.

At the outset of therapy, we will work together to identify what you want to get out of the experience, such as increasing coping skills, reducing worry, strengthening relationships, or figuring out what you are really needing to achieve more satisfaction in your life. My approach is always collaborative and I will check in with you frequently to ensure our work together feels resonant and helpful. While listening is an important part of my role, I’m not a therapist who just listens and takes notes. I have an active style and will ask you intriguing questions to help you consider things from a different angle or to help you get out of your head and tap into how you feel.

On a practical level, I generally see clients on a weekly basis. A weekly cadence facilitates engagement in therapy and helps build momentum. Therapy is most successful when the client is fully committed to the process.