My Approach
Internal Family Systems
We all have many parts of ourselves. We understand this instinctively, like when we say “One part of me wants to go to the party, but another part of me doesn’t.” With Internal Family Systems, we seek to understand how all of the parts of you interact, find which ones are causing suffering, and help to unburden their pain and trauma. This is a depth-oriented therapy that helps you release held trauma in a way that isn’t overwhelming. We figure out ways to find compassion for every part inside of you, because there are no bad parts.
*Mainly for individuals
I believe that we heal in relationships. It is incredible how feeling truly seen, understood, invested in, and celebrated can help us heal. As a relational therapist, I strive to be a secure, curious, compassionate presence. I also welcome the idea that, at times, I might mess up or misattune. When that happens, I try to repair with clients. This experience can be deeply healing, as it is amazing how few of us have experienced true repair in our lives. And whatever strength we build in our relationship helps you improve and deepen all of the other relationships in your life.
Relational Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy
That fight you keep having about the dishwasher? It’s not really about the dishwasher. Every conflict we have in our most important relationships connect back to our deepest attachment needs: care, safety, belonging, acceptance, and autonomy, among others. In Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, we focus on the deeper emotions and needs that underly relationships. We see conflict as a negative cycle of communication and help you learn to be a team against that negative cycle instead of fighting each other.
*Mainly for couples
Culturally Informed & Decolonizing
I believe it is important to recognize how culture shapes the ways we understand ourselves, others, and the world. I love to support clients in processing their complex identities and how broader systems impact their well-being. I know that the practice of Western psychotherapy originated from colonialism, patriarchy, racism, and homophobia. It also originated from the aim of blaming the individual for collective problems and oppression. By talking about the collective and the cultural in the therapy space, I aim to break down some of this history and build awareness of our interconnectedness.