My Approach
My therapeutic approach is rooted in empathy, collaboration, and empowerment. I believe in creating a safe and non-judgmental space where individuals can explore their thoughts, feelings, and challenges. I often describe my style as relational, meaning I bring my own authenticity into sessions. I have found this to be particularly helpful as it models healthy communication and trust, encouraging clients to develop more effective ways of relating to others.
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I also take a systemic approach to psychotherapy. Through this, I aim to explore a person’s challenges while considering their relational dynamics and environmental influences. I believe that people are impacted by the various systems they belong to such as family, community, and culture, and these are all key factors in understanding one’s experiences.
Using integrative approaches and a variety of strategies – such as goal-setting, behavioral activation of skills, cognitive restructuring, radical acceptance, and motivational interviewing, all of which are rooted in trauma-informed care – I guide clients towards healing and self-acceptance.
Above all else, my approach emphasizes therapeutic connection because I believe that rapport, trust, and emotional safety in the therapeutic space will bring about the best results. I have seen firsthand that when a client feels truly comfortable and safe, processing can be done and change can be made effectively.
Therapeutic modalities
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Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) combines components of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). It emphasizes the balance between acceptance and change by helping individuals find ways to accept themselves while also working towards making positive changes in their lives. DBT has been effective in treating mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression through helping individuals develop skills to regulate intense emotions, tolerate distress, and improve interpersonal relationships.
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Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) is an approach that focuses on exploring and understanding an individual’s emotional experiences and their impact on their thoughts, behaviors, and relationships. It aims to help individuals develop a deeper awareness and understanding of their feelings, particularly those that may be underlying or driving distress or problematic patterns.
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Internal Family Systems (IFS), also known as “parts work,” is a psychotherapeutic modality that conceptualizes the mind as a system of different parts, each with its own unique qualities and functions. The central idea is that individuals have an "inner family" of distinct sub-personalities or parts, and the goal of IFS therapy is to help people understand and integrate these various parts to achieve a greater sense of harmony and balance.
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Narrative Therapy is an approach that focuses on the narratives individuals have about themselves and their lives. It recognizes that people create meaning and identity through the stories they tell and aims to help them reframe their narratives in a more empowering way. By deconstructing their stories, individuals can recreate narratives that feel more aligned with their values and aspirations.
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Psychodynamic therapy dives into the deeper, often hidden parts of your mind to understand how past experiences shape your current behavior and feelings. It's all about exploring how your childhood and unconscious thoughts impact you today. By working through these buried issues, you can gain new insights and change patterns that might be holding you back.
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Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT) is a structured approach designed to help children, adolescents, and adults overcome their trauma. It aims to help individuals process and cope with their traumatic experiences by addressing their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors associated with it. In TF-CBT, you can expect a combination of psychoeducation about trauma and its effects, relaxation techniques to manage anxiety and distress, cognitive restructuring to address negative thoughts and beliefs about the trauma, and gradual exposure to related memories and reminders.
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