Sabrina Zitzelberger (she/her)

Gender is complicated, and societal expectations are a big part of why that is. Regardless of whether or not the doctor guessed your gender correctly when you entered the world, exploring the ways in which you express your gender is often an ongoing, and sometimes complex, process. I use inclusive Feminist Therapy along with my Person-Centered Approach when talking about gender.

For relationship counseling, I draw upon Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) most often. This modality explores the ways that all parties form attachments, and how they feel secure (or insecure) in them. It helps us dissect the current pattern (which Sue Johnson, creator of EFT, calls "the tango"), and then together, we develop new steps for the next time a disagreement occurs. When disagreements are worked through in a way that is emotionally safe, all parties involved feel understood and closer.

Trauma rewires our brains. It can change us into people we no longer recognize. Healing, however, will also rewire us. What doesn't kill us often makes us hypervigilant and untrusting--it's the healing that makes us stronger. While my specific approach for supporting you will be based on what you need, I generally start by exploring with you what gives you a sense of safety. Feeling safe in the room is a necessary and important first step.