Services
About My Clients
The people who work with me are struggling with managing difficult emotions related to asserting their authentic self. This might include living with a neurological difference such as bipolar disorder or autism, and/or developing an identity which seems different from the one they've embraced in previous times of life. I also work with people who may be struggling with loss of social support, depression or anxiety that seems unmanageable, or a general feeling of "stuckness."
My Background and Approach
My therapy approach integrates creative processes, in session experiences, and cognitive exercises to offer a multi-faceted, individualized approach to approaching wellness. Each person who walks in my office engages in a therapy process which is personal to them. I am an art therapist which means art is a central modality of my practice. The art process in therapy provides a symbolic mode of expression, and the opportunity to communicate and build our relationship non-verbally. Engagement in creative action allows for emergence of significant experiences, including childhood experiences, in a way which often feels safer. Art therapy has also been reported to encourage perseverance, assist with growing social relationships, and build confidence in a strong identity. I combine the art therapy modality with ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy) and psychodynamic approaches. These approaches are designed to heal your past traumas and grow your present into the life you want to live.
My Personal Beliefs and Interests
I believe that each person has the ability to grow a life which simultaneously validates suffering and finds meaning beyond it. I believe that all of us deserve to feel physically and emotionally cared for no matter what space we may be in. I am a member of the LGBTQ community, and am committed to affirming a person's need for visibility, for privacy, for connection, for support, for growth and for change both related to and beyond their chosen space in the rainbow. I am also a person who was raised in the Christian faith. Although I am not currently affiliated with a particular religion, I affirm the importance of spirit and spiritual/religious experience in the healing process for many people. I also recognize the need for healing from spiritual injury, and affirm this as a potential focus within the therapy process. It is essential in our work together that you remain in the position of the "expert" when it comes to your personal story, experiences, and needs.