Therapy Approach

In therapy, I follow your lead and help you come up with your own solutions. You know yourself best, but sometimes the right therapy structure may be just the thing that is needed to help lead you to deeper insights or get past personal road blocks. It is also important to find a therapist who is experienced in helping you discover coping skills that will work for you if you find you are feeling out of balance or moving towards a mental health crisis. 

Working with Adolescents  

Many therapists will list teens and young adults as an area of special interest or specialization, but they may also say the same for other age ranges.  Adolescent years are a critical developmental period and the specialized therapeutic support one would provide for a teenager is very different than what you would provide for an early elementary aged child or middle aged person. For this reason, I have chosen to exclusively dedicate my practice to teens and young adults. I have worked with children and teens, and young adults in various therapeutic settings for the last decade, and In this time, I have  increasingly tailored my skills and approach to support adolescent mental health. 

Licensed Marriage And Family Therapist 

Being a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist  means I see you as a whole person, not just a diagnosis. Together we will look at what you are going through in the context of any symptoms you may be experiencing, but also the context and environments you are a part of that affect and shape you. While I tend to see most of my patients in individual sessions, I am also able to do sessions with you and your family if this is something you would like to incorporate into therapy. This can be a beneficial aspect of therapy if communication with you and family members is central to your struggles. As a family therapist, I use the following theories and techniques: Family Systems Theory, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Strength-Based Therapy, Developmental  Psychology, with a Trauma Focused / Social Justice lens. 

Board Certified Art Therapist

Our therapy sessions consist of typical talk therapy or can include art therapy as I am a Board Certified Art Therapies. My art therapy structure emphasizes process over product. In a therapy session, we may use traditional psychotherapy, but will often branch out into more creative activities. I often use basic art supplies like: markers and paper, mixed media and collage materials, model magic, watercolor paint, legos, beads and jewelry making. I try to incorporate any creative activities clients enjoy and some of the interesting art therapy projects I have done with patients include: writing and illustrating graphic novels, photo journaling, making movies, making up and playing games, and self portraiture through doll making / superhero figurines, and fiber arts like knitting / crochet/ embroidery/ sewing. I have also pioneered the use of pottery wheel in private practice and we can make a plan to use it in session if it feels like it is in line with your treatment plan. 

Visit the Appointments page to set up an appointment or fill out the contact form at the bottom of the page to set up a free 20 minute consult.