therapy

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Individual therapy

There are many reasons we seek out therapy. For some, it is to find a space to explore and gain insight into who we are and why we think the way we do, for others it is when we are in crisis or transition (change in jobs, the breakdown of a relationship, the birth of a child, or the loss of a loved one) and the symptoms we are experiencing no longer feel manageable on our own. Regardless of what brings you in my room, I will approach our space with compassion, warmth, and open curiosity.

I view individual work as a combination of exploring the symptoms and dynamics of the here and now, while also looking into your past relationships to learn more about the building blocks of your sense of self and sense of relationships. My training in attachment theory and interpersonal neurobiology has informed me time and time again that our early relationships deeply influence who we are, how we navigate and attach meaning to our roles in the world, and how we exist within relationships. We are brilliantly adaptive beings, and from our first breath we are learning how to be “ok” in the eyes of our primary caregivers. Our connection to them is a biological imperative - it is our emotional and physical survival. For some this means being quiet and without needs, for others it may result being overly attentive to the needs of others, while for others it is being loud and demanding to get our needs met. Together we will explore what implicit and explicit cues you have been given in the context of your early relationships, and how these play out into who you are today.

Pregnancy and postpartum therapy

Parenthood is often romanticized in our society as a time of love, connection, and overwhelming joy. While for some this may ring true, for others this time can feel overwhelming and deeply challenging. Parenthood can bring feelings of:

• depression

• anxiety

• isolation

• grief and loss

• excessive worry

• intrusive thoughts

• irritability

• negative thoughts/feelings around being a mom/dad

• negative thoughts/feelings about your new baby

• guilt and shame

Additionally, during pregnancy and the postpartum period many changes take place in our bodies, relationships, and sense of identity (our mother/father identity tends to come in and wreak havoc on all others). And, as if this all isn't enough to be taking place during one of the most vulnerable and profound times of our lives, nothing activates old attachment wounds like trying to attach to a new baby, so we may notice things we've worked through in the past resurface again in the here and now. Therapy is a space where we will explore with compassion and curiosity how we can support your transition into this new journey.

What to expect from me

I rarely give homework, I see my clients at the same time every week and prefer to meet weekly (at least for the first few months), I tend to be a longer term therapist, I will always be aware of the presence of compassion in the room, and I share about myself. As appropriate and relevant, but you will hear me tell stories of my own journey, talk about my children and husband, and who knows what else. I share for many reasons, but primarily because at times we can feel incredibly isolated in our journeys, and to hear we are not the only ones who have known struggle and suffering can feel deeply connecting.