Different paths for different people
You bring your own history, personality, relationships, strengths, challenges, and way of making sense of the world.
My job is to learn about you, in all your complexity, and help you understand which tools and perspectives might be helpful.
My approach is grounded in humanistic and relational theories, attachment theory, developmental psychology, expressive arts therapies, interpersonal neurobiology, and an understanding of how the brain and body work together. At the heart of my approach is the belief that a strong therapeutic relationship — one where you feel heard and understood — can be a powerful foundation for insight and growth.
In our work together we'll look at the whole picture; your relationships, emotions, values, strengths, and the experiences that have shaped you.
What you can expect.
I believe therapy can include humor, playfulness, curiosity, and honest conversations about the systems and circumstances that affect our lives.
Sometimes we talk. Sometimes we create. Sometimes we learn ways to understand and regulate what's happening in your nervous system. Sometimes we work with difficult memories or experiences. We'll move at a pace that respects your needs while making room for growth when you're ready
Art Therapy
Sometimes words are enough. Sometimes they aren't.
Sometimes we know exactly how we feel but can't quite find the words. Other times, we don't yet understand what we're feeling ourselves. Art offers another way to explore our inner experience, and give form to things that may be difficult to express.
Art therapy isn't about talent or making something beautiful. It's about curiosity, exploration, and discovering what the creative process might have to offer. Sometimes it is as simple as an exercise to calm the nervous system, build mindful awareness, or reconnect with the present moment. You might paint, draw, make a collage, work with clay, or simply make marks on paper. And sometimes we'll spend an entire session talking and never make art at all.
Art therapy looks different at different ages.
With young children, art often becomes the language of play. Drawing, painting, storytelling, and imaginative materials allow children to communicate experiences that they may not yet have words for.
For adolescents, creative work can provide a way to explore identity, relationships, emotions, and the complicated process of growing up — often with more freedom than conversation alone allows.
Adults may use art to slow down, notice patterns, process grief or trauma, explore transitions, reconnect with creativity, or simply experience themselves with greater compassion and curiosity.
No matter your age, the process is shaped around you — not the other way around.
EMDR
Helping the past feel less present.
Some experiences continue to affect us long after they are over. The ways we learned to cope with difficult circumstances may have helped us at the time, but can sometimes make it harder to respond to life as it is now.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a research-supported psychotherapy that can help people process experiences that continue to affect the present. While many people know EMDR for the bilateral stimulation used during memory processing, that is only one part of a much broader therapeutic framework.
Much of what I value about EMDR happens before memory reprocessing begins. We'll take time to understand your history, identify your strengths, learn about your nervous system, and develop practical ways to manage distress and feel more grounded. These tools can be valuable in their own right, whether or not we ever move into memory processing.
If memory processing is appropriate, we'll move at a pace that feels thoughtful, collaborative, and respectful of your readiness. There is no expectation that you move more quickly than feels manageable.