What do you treat?
I was trained as a clinical social worker and, therefore, treat a variety of mental health conditions. Throughout my time in clinical practice, I have focused on treating clients struggling with anxiety, depression, grief, loss, and life transitions. Below is a little bit of information about how I help in each situation.
I also enjoy working with clients struggling with relationship issues, adjusting to a new illness, suffering from chronic medical conditions, and experiencing caregiver stress. If you are not sure whether I can help you, please reach out so we can talk more about your unique situation. While I may not be a good fit for your needs, I may be able to recommend you to a colleague who is better equipped to care for your current struggles.
Anxiety
Feelings of anxiety and/or panic often have significant impacts on our ability to function in our daily lives. Many of my clients struggling with feelings of anxiety often have difficulty focusing, trouble sleeping, and experience racing, anxious thoughts. They often feel restless, on edge, or tense. We will work together to learn what skills help you to manage your own anxiety and find peace.
Depression
Feelings of depression often leave us wanting to stay in bed all day. Clinical depression takes away our ability to enjoy life and often causes us to feel hopeless. Many of my clients struggling with feelings of depression also have difficulty controlling their negative self-talk. We will work together to help you find joy again, to be kinder to yourself, and to take back your life.
grief and loss
Grief comes in many forms: the death of someone you love; the loss of an important relationship; the death of a pet; the loss of a job; a new diagnosis/illness; or the loss of anything else that's important to you. Regardless of the source, all grief is valid and needs to be witnessed. We will work together to understand your grief and, when you are ready, how to live life again.
Life Transitions
Life transitions can be difficult, especially if you feel alone. They often challenge our sense of identity and cause us to search for our purpose in our current phase of life. We will work together to help you navigate this transition and figure out how to move forward in your new phase of life.
Who do you Treat?
I provide individual counseling services to adults (individuals over the age of 18 years). I have worked with a wide variety of individuals throughout my time in clinical practice that have had many unique and individual identities. While I may not be familiar with your unique situation, I will always do my best to understand and be respectful of your different identities. Below is information on populations that I have worked with frequently.
College Mental Health
Most recently, my career has been focused on caring for college students, including those seeking both undergraduate or graduate degrees. This experience has provided me with an understanding of the common struggles faced at this age and the pressures that students experience on a daily basis. Many of the college students I work with struggle with anxiety and depression in addition to perfectionism and a feeling that they are not “good enough” or “doing enough”.
Individuals EXPEriencing health concerns
I spent much of my career working in inpatient, outpatient, and emergency room settings. I have witnessed how both chronic and acute health concerns can impact an individual and their entire family. I have helped clients navigate accessing care within a complicated medical system and supported clients while they learn to adjust following the diagnosis of a new chronic health condition. Additionally, I enjoy working with individuals diagnosed with cancer as well as those returning to “normal” life once cancer treatment is complete.
Older Adults and their caregivers
The majority of my work as a medical social worker was focused on caring for older adults and their caregivers. This experience allowed me to understand the common struggles older adults and their caregivers face. Navigating retirement, new medical diagnoses, changing abilities, and the loss of independence are just a few of the issues I have helped older adults learn to manage. Caregiver stress is a reality for many caregivers and a little extra support can go a long way to help cope with the challenges of caring for a loved one.
How do you treat?
My primary goal in therapy is to provide a safe and non-judgmental space for you to share your story. Countless studies show that the therapeutic alliance, or the relationship between you and your therapist, is more important than the specific modality a provider uses during sessions. Nonetheless, all providers should be trained in evidenced-based practices that have been proven to be successful in the treatment of mental illness.
The foundation of my training has been in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and, most recently, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. I often add skills from other modalities, such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Mindfulness when it’s appropriate. Below is a little information on the most common treatments that I implement in my practice.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is often the foundational therapeutic skill taught to counselors/therapists in their training programs. CBT focuses on the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Through telling me your story, we will work to determine maladaptive patterns in thoughts, feelings, or behaviors. These patterns then become the target of interventions to help you live a happier life. Modifications of CBT used in my practice include techniques from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).
EMDR Therapy
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, or EMDR, is a type of therapy designed to treat trauma. One simple definition of trauma is anything that happens too much, too fast, or too soon. As a result, our nervous system may struggle to process the memories and emotions associated with a traumatic event. This inhibits our ability to heal naturally from the traumatic event and can impact the way that our brain functions in the present moment. Through EMDR therapy, the brain is able to resume its natural healing process and, therefore, improve present functioning. In the context of my practice, EMDR is most commonly used in conjunction with other therapeutic techniques to help address symptoms of anxiety and depression that result from negative beliefs about the self that have developed and been reinforced throughout the lifespan.
motivational interviewing
Motivational interviewing, or MI, is a tool used to facilitate behavior change. It was designed to help clinicians meet their clients where they are at from a place of understanding rather than judgment. While developed primarily as a tool for the treatment of substance use disorders, MI can be a beneficial technique for any behavior change. MI can also help us to better understand barriers to behavior change and how to overcome them.
PSYCHOeducation
While education is an inherent part of all treatment modalities used in my practice, I believe that it is important for you to be empowered to understand your own diagnosis and treatment. Being able to recognize symptoms of mental health concerns can help you better care for themselves and implement skills learned in therapy in the future. Having a better understanding of the “why” behind treatment techniques will hopefully make you more likely to try new skills outside of session.