My approach

I work with each client through a strength-based, holistic, and non-judgmental lens. Simply put, I don’t see anything “wrong” with you or your child—life’s challenges and factors beyond our control can make difficult emotions and experiences feel heavier than they need to.

To help clients reach their goals, I draw from a variety of evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness, and parts work. With preteens and adolescents, I also incorporate Play and Art Therapy. This flexible, multi-modal approach allows me to tailor interventions to each individual’s unique needs and goals.

 As humans, we are constantly making meaning of our lives, integrating our experiences with both explicit and implicit messages from the world around us. We use these stories as templates to anticipate and predict future outcomes. Our brains are wired for survival, naturally attuned to detect danger and hold onto negative emotions more readily than positive ones. This can unintentionally create problem-focused personal narratives and a harsh inner critic. Therapy offers a space to build a more balanced, strength-based personal narrative—one that acknowledges achievements, draws on personal strengths and purpose, and cultivates a more compassionate relationship with the inner critic.

The way we think about our experiences shapes how we feel about them. Thoughts are simply ideas, memories, fantasies, and worries that run through our minds when we’re not fully focused on something else—they are not facts, and they cannot harm us. Our thoughts often become distorted in predictable ways, creating negative emotional states. The good news is that neuroscience shows it’s never too late to change these patterns. The saying, “neurons that fire together, wire together,” reminds us that intentional awareness, practice, and repetition can help form new, healthier ways of thinking—even in adulthood.

We can’t solve our challenges by just thinking about them—healing comes through intentional action. Activities like journaling, connecting with others, exercising, or practicing relaxation techniques can boost mood and reduce stress. Evidence shows that behavioral activation and gradual exposure to fears are effective ways to shift patterns of depression and anxiety. I encourage clients to explore actions and movement that create positive feelings and support overall mental health.

Behaviors are easier to change when they are connected to our core values. Identifying these values and using them as guiding principles can help create healthier habits and make the pursuit of our goals more meaningful and fulfilling, regardless of the outcome. What matters most to you? What kind of person do you want to be? What do you stand for? Clarifying your values can also support decision-making, help prioritize what matters most, and strengthen boundaries in relationships.

Because our brains are hardwired to focus on threats, it’s not realistic to expect to feel happy all the time. Negative emotions are a normal part of life and cannot harm you—they are sensations in your body. While these feelings can sometimes feel overwhelming, it is possible to learn skills to tolerate, process, and move through them, supporting a life of meaning and purpose. I teach distress tolerance techniques that create space for the natural expression of emotions and help distinguish between healthy and overwhelming emotional states.

Mindfulness is the practice of observing our sensory experiences without judgment or attaching a story to them—paying attention to the present moment with openness and detachment, rather than getting caught in self-focused thinking. It helps us relate to our thoughts and emotions with curiosity and kindness, notice them without automatically reacting, and create space between a trigger and our response. By practicing mindfulness, we can reduce the intensity of difficult emotions, manage stress and anxiety more effectively, and develop greater emotional balance and resilience.