Together we will first seek to understand the issues that are bothering you and the personal strengths that you already have. Through this process and to guide our efforts, I will help you establish goals for therapy that can be continually revisited, revised, or added to as we progress. I aim to first provide symptom relief and “put out fires.” Then, if you choose, we will dive into deeper work that helps challenge long-held patterns (such as avoidance) that were likely exceptionally helpful at some point but have since continued to cause problems or strife. Throughout the process we will work together to ensure that each session is in service of helping you obtain the life you want to lead. In our therapy I will use a combination of interventions tailored to your specific needs including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Emotionally-Focused Individual Therapy.

Regardless of how old you are or what challenges you are facing, we all have times when we struggle to manage our emotions or feel overwhelmed by uncertainty or anxiety. Oftentimes, our response to the emotional disruption is to feel as if our emotions either take control of us or we stuff them down and avoid them altogether. Both responses are normal and both responses can be equally unhelpful if used over an extended period of time. Emotions provide important pieces of information and we can get lost if we don’t feel them at all or if they are so big that they take over. Uncertainty, on the other hand, often means that we have two conflicting options or are facing a barrier we feel stuck behind. I work extensively with my clients to help them have a healthier relationship with their emotions and to clarify what is valuable to them so that they can trust themselves to make important decisions.

Finding a therapist who not only is non-judgmental of your preferences but also has knowledge and understanding of them, can be challenging. I work with individuals and couples who have many ways of living, bonding, and fantasizing. I am welcoming and inclusive to all who may be living an “alternative life-style” or who are wanting to explore a different side of themselves or their sexuality. I also have extensive experience in helping couples who have open, “swinger,” or polyamorous relationships create a secure and intimate relationship with their partner while navigating the fun, tricky, or scary parts of having additional romantic or sexual partners. At our core, we all want to know that we are important and prioritized; with boundaries and security, we can work to establish this safety with any type of relationship.

Raising our little ones and taking care of family is an amazing job. It can also be isolating and create a dynamic where one’s own identity is not clear. I often hear clients tell me that they love being a parent but have “lost” themselves or don’t know who they are outside of being a parent and spouse. I help clients own the mixed emotions of being a parent without guilt so that they can redefine who they are apart from their children. Through this process, not only will you begin to feel better overall, but you will also likely find that you are able to be a more present and involved parent when you are with your children.

Unique changes come along with aging. Topics related to growing older are often not addressed or can feel stigmatizing. However, living a long life also necessitates changes and challenges. I work with older adults on better understanding and managing the changes that come including those related to health concerns, navigating decreased mobility or independence, retirement, and other kinds of loss such as death of loved ones or of identity-defining careers. Continually moving towards a value-driven life does not stop as we age. I seek to help older-adults find ways to engage with their values. Age-related changes do not have to mean only losses but can also be an amazing time for growth.

If you or someone you love are experiencing end-of-life issues, whether through normal aging or terminal or degenerative illness, facing mortality can be jarring and filled with uncertainty or dread. We are often met with questions related to the meaning of life, what happens after death, or regrets for decisions we did or did not make. We can also often feel isolated in not being sure who we can talk to or may feel as if we are a burden to others with these types of questions. On this journey, I stand beside you to be a space for all these questions. I can help you feel less alone and facilitate you feeling surer in your decisions along the way. We may even discover answers to questions you didn’t know you had.