Assess and address life struggles

If you are reading through this page, it is likely you are trying to find the right mental health therapist for you in a time where you've decided change is necessary. Many people I've spoken to find this time to be complicated and anxiety-filled. Congratulations on your decision to make changes in your life! Please contact me for a phone consultation to see if I might be a helpful force in your efforts for recovery.

I offer psychotherapy & outpatient mental health services, as well as addiction & substance use recovery counseling, for adults in the comfort of their own homes via secure telehealth/virtual meeting. It is my ultimate goal to make a lasting connection with clients to help them address suffering or difficulties to increase happiness and self-acceptance. I am happy to speak with you to find how I could play a role in this time of change.

Types of Conditions Treated

Trauma

Having a history of frightening circumstances, in singularity or repetition, can have a profound effect on a person's functioning for decades afterward.
Are you struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic? Are you an essential worker? Healthcare employee? Or are you stuck at home with no foreseeable end to returning to a workplace?

Depression

Has your mood been all over the place lately?
Have you lost interest in most things you used to enjoy?
Have you noticed increased fatigue, change in sleep habits, change in appetite?
Have you noticed the urge to avoid everyone?

Addiction

Have you noticed you can't avoid alcohol, drugs, spending, or sex for even just a day as a method of coping?
Are emotions so intense that you can't stand sitting with them?
Have you noticed substances and behaviors that used to make you feel better don't work any more?

Anxiety and Perfectionism

Is your mind racing constantly? Circling the same thought, fear, or worry?
Are you having difficulty not making things "perfect"?
Have you noticed repetitive habits, thoughts, or actions that used to make you feel better?

Types of Therapy Practiced

What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy that was originally developed to treat chronic suicidality in clients. It has evolved to treat a multitude of disorders, including addiction, depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and personality disorders. This therapy consists of individual therapy and DBT skills coaching & education. DBT attends to mindfulness, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance skills.

What is Internal Family Systems?

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a modality consisting of internal healing of various parts of the self. This theory believes we as people are a system made up of many parts (or sub-personalities) that make up our daily functioning. Any disruption to this system can cause daily difficulties to the self. IFS is a compassionate approach that lends a tremendous amount of self-healing on a long-term basis. This approach is increasing its scientific evidence of effectiveness for clients with a history of trauma and self-esteem difficulties.

What is Dialectical Abstinence in substance use recovery?

Dialectical abstinences in a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) approach to recovering from substance use addictions. This approach combines Harm Reduction and Abstinence Only approaches to create a long-term plan for continuing and/or returning to recovery goals.

Harm Reduction is a substance use recovery approach that encourages specified reduction of substance use in order to reduce the potential risks of withdrawal, which is one of the most common reasons for release in early recovery. This approach requires the willingness and problem solving efforts of client and therapist equally.
Abstinence Only approach is a substance use recovery approach that utilizes a sudden cessation of substance use, relying on programming, coping skills, and social support to cope with the absence of substances. This approach was popularized by social support structures like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and other similar groups.
Dialectical Abstinence combines Harm Reduction and Abstinence Only approaches. DA utilizes Harm Reduction scheduled reduction of substances while learning DBT skills to cope with the changes, ultimately aiming for total abstinence for the end goal. Any time a relapse occurs, the client would return to the scheduled reduction back toward abstinence. This approach also requires collaboration from client and therapist equally.

Holistic, Collaborative, Honest, Compassionate

I enjoy working with people who want a collaborative work environment in the therapy room. I'm a firm believer that mental health therapy is collaborative efforts from client and therapist. I serve as your ally, confidant, and advocate. I'm frequently given the feedback that my humor, validation, and compassionate feedback are helpful in the therapeutic process to create change and motivation for emotional balance. I also believe that a holistic, educational, and nonjudgmental approach to mental health care is vital--it is very common that these problems exist in a cyclical pattern of cause and effect. This means the body can affect the mind and vise-versa in a long-term pattern. I believe in making changes in this pattern slowly while addressing any blame, judgement, shame, and any other barriers that might arise along the way.