How it starts

People don’t typically come to therapy because a problem emerges overnight. We often carry things with us. The pain for how we were hurt (or maybe even, how we hurt others), the memory of the awkward interaction that we just can’t shake (even though we KNOW it’s not that big of a deal). The ways in which we blow up at our family or our kids and couldn’t even tell you why. And no matter how much apologize, you can’t really shake it.

We start there. Exactly where you are. Bringing the guilt, the awkwardness, the shame and general stuff into the room. My job at first is to listen and understand. I believe that it is incredibly empowering and freeing thing to be able to show up in a space exactly as you are. No need to filter your thoughts or your speech. My hope is to create a space to where you can show up in the way that you want to show up.

From there, we find out how to move forward. Therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all, so our work will be shaped around what you need. Sometimes it means slowing down and understanding your patterns, where they come from, and why they keep showing up. Sometimes it means making space for the bigger questions—about your identity, your story, your faith, and what you actually believe.

My role is to help you make sense of what’s happening, stay grounded in it, and begin responding in ways that feel more aligned with who you are and who you want to be.

In Counseling, we use what we call “modalities”

Simply put, A therapy modality is simply the style or approach a therapist uses to help meet a person’s needs.

There are a lot of them, and like a lot of people I tend to understand and gravitate towards certain ones more naturally. If you’d like to read a little about the methods I pull from, the primary three are listed below.

How I approach therapy

  • Narrative therapy looks at the stories you’ve come to believe about yourself.

    One of my favorite quotes from this approach is “People do not live life based on reality, they live life based on the stories they believe are true about reality”

    Over time, experiences can shape how you see who you are. Together, we begin to notice those patterns, question the ones that don’t fit, and make space for a story that feels more true to you.ext goes here

  • IFS is based on the idea that we all have different “parts” within us.

    You might have a part that feels anxious, a part that shuts down, or a part that pushes you hard. Instead of fighting those parts, we learn to understand them and work with them, so you can feel more grounded and less pulled in different directions.

  • DBT focuses on building practical skills to handle intense emotions, stress, and relationships.

    This can include learning how to slow things down in overwhelming moments, manage difficult feelings, and respond in ways that align with who you want to be.