Specialties

Areas of Specialty

I offer effective treatment for some of the more common reasons people come to therapy, such as anxiety, depression, and adjustment to life stressors. Below, you will find information about some of my areas of focus.

Trauma

Trauma recovery is a topic that I can get passionate about. Many people seeking therapy for their trauma experience some shame about the traumatic experience itself, or their response to reminders of the trauma. I believe that the different ways we respond to trauma (fight/flight/freeze, dissociation, self-harm or perfectionism, for example) were, at one time, protective. By the time someone decides to begin therapy, these protective responses may interfere with the way the person wants to live their life.

I have observed that many of the issues that present themselves in therapy (including depression and anxiety) are related to “little t” traumas. Most people recognize “big T” Traumas as significant injuries, assaults, or losses. The “little t” traumas may not always be recognized as traumatic, but consist of cumulative negative experiences that leave us feeling inadequate or unimportant, put our stability and security at risk, or impact our ability to trust ourselves and our relationships. I believe there is healing power in having our stories told, particularly when when we recognize our strengths and survival in that story.

Sometimes talking about trauma doesn’t help. Without sufficient support and emotional regulation skills, talking about painful memories can re-trigger the fear response, dissociation, or panic. Sometimes talking helps us make sense of our story intellectually, but we still experience distressing symptoms in response to reminders of our past. I am trained in EMDR, an evidenced-based treatment for reprocessing traumatic memories using Adaptive Information Processing. EMDR can help us integrate our most distressing experiences and return to a state of emotional safety. I compare it to reorganizing an overwhelmingly messy closet, piece by piece, with a lot of protective resources so that the closet does not open unexpectedly and dump everything on the floor. EMDR can be very helpful for some, but is not a good fit for everyone. Still, I draw upon many of the EMDR skills to help my clients learn to regulate their emotions and their nervous system’s response to stress.

Perinatal Mental Health

The pregnancy and postpartum periods are times of growth and change. Many people enter into this period with an expectation of excitement and happiness.  However, approximately 20% of birth parents or their partners report symptoms of depression and anxiety related to the challenges presented during this time.  You or your partner may experience stress related to hormonal changes, social isolation, financial stress, changes in family roles, and parenting struggles, to name a few. Those who have experienced trauma, infertility, loss, or unplanned pregnancy may face additional challenges.  Adoptive and foster parents may experience similar distress.  When these stressors become overwhelming, you may experience:

  • Feelings of hopelessness

  • Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep

  • Feelings of hostility or rage

  • Anxiety

  • Difficulty focusing or making decisions

  • Fatigue

  • Scary or "intrusive" thoughts

  • Poor coordination or concentration

  • Suicidal thoughts

  • Hallucinations or bizarre behaviors (these symptoms constitute a medical emergency and should be treated in the emergency room)


You do not need to suffer in silence.  You are not alone.  There is help.  You will get better. Postpartum depression and anxiety is temporary and treatable.  

You are welcome to bring your infant to our sessions.  If you prefer to leave your baby with a caregiver during therapy, that is fine as well.  Toddlers and older children can be disruptive to the therapeutic process and are encouraged to remain at home or with a caregiver.

As a master’s level therapist, I am qualified to diagnose mental health disorders (thought I don’t love the word “disorder”), but please bear in mind that there are specific situations in which an evaluation by a licensed Psychologist might be required, such as is often the case with academic or occupational accommodation requests.

If you are taking medication to address your mental health needs, or are seeking medication, I am happy to coordinate with your PCP or prescriber. I do not prescribe medication, but I work with my clients to evaluate when it’s time to discuss medication options with their physician. I respect each individual’s autonomy to make decisions about whether to use medication, and will not pressure anyone to seek a prescription if they do not want to. I do offer information and education to those who might benefit from medication in addition to therapy but who have concerns about potential side effects.