Individual Therapy

At some point in our lives, we all struggle with issues that can feel overwhelming.  Sometimes we can find a solution on our own, but other times we need support from someone else.  My areas of expertise include:

• Anxiety/Panic Attacks
• Depression
• Grief/Loss
• Trauma/PTSD
• Sexual Trauma
• Chronic/Terminal Illness
• Anger Management
• Self-Esteem
• Self-Harm
• Codependency
• Life-Changing Transitions (i.e. divorce, break-up, moving, having a baby, job loss, car accident; any transition that affects your day-to-day functioning)

I have included brief descriptions below of each of the challenges I am experienced in treating in case you would like additional information. 

Anxiety/Panic Attacks: Anxiety comes from many different sources and can affect all aspects of a person’s life.  It is normal to feel some level of anxiety and stress in life, however sometimes it becomes so overwhelming that it affects your daily functioning, leaving you feeling irritated, on edge, helpless, afraid, overwhelmed, and even depressed.  Some may even find that they isolate themselves and prefer not to leave their home.  Anxiety can be debilitating and tends to affect the areas of our lives that are most important to us. It is essential to pay attention to the signs of anxiety and learn the tools to help you cope more effectively.  I help clients to reduce the negative effects of anxiety while enhancing peace and balance in their lives so they can live they life that they want, not the life that anxiety wants!  (If suffering from frequent panic attacks, click on the “EMDR” tab at the top of the page for an explanation of one possible approach that effectively treats panic attacks).

Depression: Depression is more common than people think and it can permeate all aspects of a person’s life.  If left untreated, it can leave people feeling isolated, disconnected, unhappy, unmotivated, helpless, and sometimes even hopeless.  No matter the circumstance, there is always a spark of hope!  I help clients to use their strengths, resources, and innate resilience to overcome the effects of depression and move toward possibilities of greater happiness, fulfillment, and satisfaction.  I also support them in developing more positive thought patterns, beliefs, actions, and interactions within their lives.

Grief/Loss: Grief is a normal response to loss and can come with a range of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are unique to each person depending on their culture, background, beliefs, personality, and relationship to what was lost.  Grief may come from the death of a loved one, miscarriage, pet loss, job loss, divorce, trauma, illness, or the loss of one’s identity.  For many, the pain can feel unbearable.  This is understandable as grief and loss launches us into unchartered territory where many aspects of our lives become disrupted.  Grief can also feel confusing if you had a complicated relationship to the person who was lost.  Whatever your grief experience, it is important to be patient with yourself and allow the process to naturally unfold.  I will help guide you through the roller coaster of emotion that comes with grieving, giving you comfort and tools along the way to help you adjust to life without your loved one, and to find peace, acceptance, and happiness again.

Trauma/PTSD: A traumatic event can shatter your sense of well-being and security.  When someone goes through a traumatic experience, they may feel numb, scared, shocked, confused, anxious, depressed, powerless, and unable to function.  Often times, people find themselves reliving the trauma over and over again.  These normal reactions to trauma can isolate people from themselves, their relationships, and the important aspects of their personal and professional lives.  I help people to safely process their reactions to the traumatic event(s) and develop healthier coping skills to move forward in life.  Although we cannot change past trauma, I work with people to change their relationship with it, creating more space for possibilities of relief, renewal, and recovery.  (Click on the “EMDR” tab at the top of the page for an explanation of one possible approach that effectively treats trauma/PTSD).

Sexual Trauma: Sexual trauma is a personal and destructive crime and refers to any action that pressures or coerces someone to do something sexually they don’t want to do.  Its effects on you and your loved ones can be psychological, emotional, and/or physical.  They can be brief in duration or last a very long time.  It is important to remember that there is not one “normal” reaction to sexual trauma.  Many people experience feelings of fear, guilt, anger, shame, worthlessness, embarrassment, and/or shock.  Being sexually abused/assaulted is a life-changing experience – the most severe form of physical assault short of homicide – and it is perfectly acceptable for you to work at your own pace.  I provide a safe and supportive environment for clients to process their experience when they are ready.  I also help clients recognize how the event has impacted their life, what to expect during the recovery process, and tools to help them work through and overcome the abuse/assault.  (Click on the “EMDR” tab at the top of the page for an explanation of one possible approach that effectively treats sexual trauma).

Chronic/Terminal Illness:  Being diagnosed with a serious or terminal illness is an incredibly difficult and devastating time for individuals and their loved ones.  It can affect the way we think, feel, and live, as it often forces us to look at mortality through a different lens.  It is common to feel angry, guilty, regretful, fearful, anxious, and/or depressed as you adjust to the new reality.  Some of the biggest fears individuals hold is how their loved ones will deal with the illness, being a burden to their loved ones, how their loved ones will cope if and when they pass, and what their own personal mortality and future holds.  I help individuals process these understandable yet unpleasant feelings and fears, and guide them to find peace around mortality, the illness, and in their lives again.

Anger Management:  Anger is a complex yet healthy emotion as long as people express it in safe and appropriate ways.  Anger is often an important signal that something in our lives need to change.  I help people identify the early warning signs and respond differently to triggers.  This enables clients to respond more effectively instead of automatically reacting and letting anger get the best of them.  I help clients change their relationship with anger by understanding what is driving their anger, channeling it in productive ways, and using more effective coping methods.

Self-Esteem: Low self-esteem is a negative evaluation of oneself.  Having a low self-esteem can have devastating consequences, such as anxiety, stress, loneliness, and increased likelihood of depression.  It can also cause problems with friendships and romantic relationships, impair academic and job performance, and/or lead to increased vulnerability to drug and alcohol abuse.  Once you have accepted, or are at least willing to entertain the possibility that you can change, there are several steps you can take to begin to improve the way you feel about yourself.  I help clients explore and identify negative self-talk and irrational thinking that contributes to the way they feel about themselves.  I also provide support and guidance in helping them develop more positive thought patterns, beliefs, actions, and interactions within their lives.

Self-Harm: Self-harm includes anything you do to intentionally injure yourself.  Self-harm can be a way of coping with problems. It may help you express feelings that you can’t put into words, distract you from your life, or release emotional pain. Afterwards, you probably feel better—at least for a little while. But then the painful feelings return, and you feel the urge to hurt yourself again.  If you want to stop but don’t know how, remember this: you deserve to feel better, and you can get there without hurting yourself.  It can be scary to talk about the very thing you have worked so hard to hide, but it can also be a huge relief to finally let go of your secret and share what you’re going through.  I can help you better understand the complex nature of self-harm and work with you on creating coping skills to eventually take the place of hurting yourself.

Codependency:  Codependency is a learned behavior that can be passed down from one generation to another. It is an emotional and behavioral condition that affects an individual’s ability to have a healthy, mutually satisfying relationship. It is also known as “relationship addiction” because people with codependency often form or maintain relationships that are one-sided, emotionally destructive, and/or abusive.  Codependency means putting aside your own needs in order to try and meet the needs of another person.  It often develops from dysfunctional patterns of living and problem-solving during childhood which can restrict the free and healthy development of people’s self-esteem and coping.  The codependent person tries to provide and/or control everything within the relationship (this could be with a friend, family member, or significant other) without addressing their own needs or desires.  I help clients identity non-helpful actions and behaviors and work to develop new, healthier coping skills through teaching assertiveness, boundaries, listening, and communication.

Life Changing Transitions:  This refers to a time in your life in which change has occurred, leaving you feeling anxious, stressed, sad, depressed, or just simply “out of it”.  This could result from a variety of things, such as finding out you have a loved one who is sick, going through a bad break-up, having your first child, getting laid off from work, sending your daughter or son off to college, getting married, getting divorced, getting into a car accident, etc.  The transition you are going through may or may not feel significant, but either way, it is having an impact on you and your day-to-day functioning.  I provide a compassionate, nonjudgmental environment that allows you to discuss and explore this challenging time in your life.  I help clients look at various aspects of the situation to gain perspective and deeper understanding in order to help them grow and move forward with their life in a positive and healthy way.