Many of the folks I work with experience a deep sense of shame, going through life feeling like they have to hide their true selves from others (and maybe themselves). Often, painful past experiences have taught them they aren’t good enough, must strive for perfection, or that they’re just too hard to love. Sometimes these experiences show up as hopelessness, depression, anxiety, and/or trauma symptoms. Clients often find me during periods of transition when it all feels like too much to bear.
Together, clients and I work on uncovering their values, the things that help them build the life they want to live. I believe clients are experts on their lives, and I support them in identifying their inherent strengths, connecting with their authentic selves, and learning coping skills. I want to help clients find joy and meaning in their stories as they learn to navigate the process of being human. I’m skilled at helping clients examine influences from family, community, and society at large, identifying ways that systemic oppression impacts quality of life and challenging internalized oppression to promote healing.
While I enjoy working with a wide range of clients, I’m particularly skilled at working with those experiencing shame, depression, trauma, anxiety, and transitions, as well as exploring identity and relationships (including identifying and setting boundaries and improving communication). I also help with emotion regulation, especially for those who oscillate between numbness and overwhelming emotions.
