About Therapy With Me
My Professional Philosophy
I believe that the best way for you to find your way through your issues is to turn toward them with the help of a safe, trusted other. So my goal is to be a safe, trusted other for you—to provide you with steadfast support through even the darkest places; meaningful guidance rooted in your own intuitions and abilities; and room for all your experiences and emotions. This seemingly simple process yields profound benefits and is grounded in the power of a trustworthy, authentic relationship to move you toward greater wholeness and balance.
Foundations of My Work
The way I approach my work with you is informed by:
depth psychology, which prioritizes exploration of the true self.
psychodynamic therapy, which honors your personal history.
attachment theory and science, which deepens understanding of your relationship patterns.
Dynamic Enriched Experiential Psychotherapy (DEEP), which promotes lived experiences of growth and healing through relationship. (DEEP incorporates all the above approaches plus Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), interpersonal neurobiology, Stephen Porges’ polyvagal theory, and other cutting-edge theories.)
Somatic Experiencing® and Brainspotting, which use the wisdom of the body-brain to facilitate healing.
mindfulness, which supports compassionate awareness of the present moment.
The Therapeutic Process
In our work together, we will explore your experiences with a gentle curiosity toward what lies unseen and marginalized on the fringes. I will encourage and help you to gradually stretch yourself—to sense and express things you hadn't noticed; to become more comfortable with your emotions and thoughts; to consider unexpected sources of insight; and to generally begin hearing and trusting your ever-present inner wisdom.
We will give full consideration to all that arises as meaningful road signs to wholeness.
And I will always provide a confidential, safe, compassionate, and nonjudgmental space where you can have these experiences as you feel ready to do so. This process of exploration and expanding your awareness allows us to create a unique therapy experience that is the right process for you, and it helps you in many different ways.
The Therapeutic Relationship
The therapeutic relationship is the foundation for what happens in psychotherapy. This means that the therapeutic process depends on the right fit between us and that we should feel comfortable with each other. I will strive to provide a space where you can fully express yourself, where you feel respected and all your thoughts, feelings, and experiences are welcome. And I will, in return, strive to be genuine with you.
Length of Therapy
Some people choose to spend multiple years in therapy, using it as a tool for exploring themselves and reshaping their lives; others want more targeted therapy, focusing on one or two specific issues. Both approaches can be helpful and facilitate growth. In your first session, we’ll talk about what you want to gain from therapy. These goals will be the guiding factor in beginning our work, and in the course of therapy, we’ll discuss how you’re feeling about our progress on these goals. The decision about when to conclude therapy will depend on your overall desire to continue and whether you want to work on other things that come up in the course of our work. And I will give it the same care and attention I give to the rest of my work with you.
Therapy is a process that you and I enter into together, and it is a process that also works best when we talk together about ending it. Having a positive experience of bringing relationships to an end is something we humans aren't always familiar or comfortable with doing, so bringing your therapy with me to an end will be a chance to practice saying goodbye and learning that “good goodbyes” are possible for you.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is a cornerstone of psychotherapy. I will treat with great care all information you share with me, and it is your right that our sessions and my records about you be kept private. In all but a few rare situations, your confidentiality is protected by state law, the rules of my profession, and my personal integrity. And please know that I will never disclose your information for any reason without your knowing of my intent.
“For those who have an intense urge for Spirit and wisdom, it sits near them, waiting.”