About My Therapy Practice

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I have experience working with individuals, couples, families, and groups regarding a variety of issues. I strive to help my clients examine and improve their relationships with themselves, others, and the world around them in order to make positive changes in life and reduce existing pain, struggles, and fears. 

One of my favorite things to do in therapy is to help people figure out who they are, who they want to be, and how to love and appreciate themselves. Low-self esteem and lack of identity are two epidemics that people often struggle with throughout their lifetimes. It is often said that “you can’t love someone else until you love yourself”; I don’t believe that to be true. You can absolutely love someone else if you don’t love yourself, but you will forever be struggling to receive love from others because you doubt your ability to be lovable. Helping my clients to learn to know and love themselves is one of the most rewarding things that I do because it not only helps them heal the relationship with themselves (the one that is lifelong and cannot be escaped) but also dramatically improves their relationship with others. 

Working with couples and relationships is another passion of mine. Couples therapy is like a puzzle: two individuals with different histories, perspectives, personalities, and expectations merging lives together is rarely a seamless process. Helping each partner be heard, understood, and validated allows the couple to learn to communicate, compromise, and conjoin their lives with less conflict. I love to see those “lightbulb” moments of awareness when one partner listens to the other answer a question they never thought to ask, because they assumed they already knew the answer. The realization that their partner’s perspective is different than their own and shapes their behavior can bring about immediate and lasting change in the dynamic because it creates understanding. 

I aim to help bring clients out of places of darkness and brokenness by identifying and building on their strengths, providing tools and resources for positive change and healing, and illuminating the future with hope and a greater sense of purpose. Most people have no concept of their own potential or capacity, having internalized criticism and shame from themselves, others, and the world at large. One of the greatest gifts that can be given to another human are positive words of affirmation. As a therapist, it is my joy and privilege to speak life into my clients, calling forth the strengths that exist within them and supporting them in identifying their own resources and potential which allow them to continue to heal and grow.