Therapeutic Approach

I’ve seen it all in my career, from working with the homeless population, community outreach, psychiatric patients in an emergency department, employee assistance programs, private practice, and everything in between! My wide range of experience has taught me that at our core, we are relational beings. We are deeply impacted by, marked, and shaped by our experiences with the world and people around us. I believe what has been harmed in relationship has to be healed in relationship.

We often feel like there are parts of ourselves that are acceptable, and others that should be hidden. It is often in those hidden places full of pain, isolation, heartache, and even joy that need to be reflected on with another human being. We are all in need of another person who can help us carry our experiences and stories for a season. My hope is that we can build a relationship where you can bring all the parts of who you are so you may know a more authentic and full life.

In the words of Dr. Gabor Maté:

“The task that hinders your task is your task. It’s with our minds that we create the world. We all begin life with wanting and needing to be loved. And then something happens. And it’s a hard road back.”

If you’re looking for someone to join you on that hard road back, please contact me.

If you’re familiar with psychotherapy terms, I practice from a psychodynamic perspective that is heavily influenced by relational psychoanalytic theory. Some of my theoretical influencers are Phillip Bromberg, Lew Aron, Jessica Benjamin, and the founders of Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy in Seattle (RPPS).

The biggest influencers on the way I practice though are my colleagues, teachers, coaches, my family, and my own therapeutic journey.

People who come to see me…

Most of the clients who find me are looking to do work that is in-depth and goes beyond symptom reduction. I also do short term work with clients who are looking to address very specific concerns. Clients who come to see me come from many different walks of life, from all races, sexual orientations, religious backgrounds, and careers. I work with individual adults.

 
 

What are the people you see going through?

  • Depression and Anxiety

  • Spirituality: Spiritual Abuse, Spiritual Identity, Doubt

  • Relationships: Parenting Issues, Divorce, Blended Families, Relational Fulfillment

  • Trauma and Abuse: PTSD, Military Veterans, Sexual Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Verbal Abuse

    • A note about trauma…There is a difference about what is traumatic and what is trauma. An event that happens to you is traumatic, i.e., being abused, observing and participating in war, etc. Trauma isn’t what happens to you, it is what happens inside of you. You don’t necessarily have to have experienced a traumatic event to have experienced trauma. Most humans have experienced relational trauma of some sort in their lives, which frequently leads to anxiety, depression, relational issues, and other ways of saying we’re not okay.

  • Grief/Loss

  • Integration of Psychedelic Experiences

While I believe in the healing power of psychotherapy, there are times that I may recommend adjunct healing modalities such as body work, medication evaluation, or other alternative treatments to make sure we are helping you address your whole person.