Focus Areas

On this page you'll find some info about my focus areas. This is not an exhaustive list; the human condition involves many different types of challenges and painful experiences, and I can't cover them all. If you don't see yourself represented here but are interested in my approach to therapy, please reach out anyway.

Bipolar disorder

I can help you learn how to cope with the ups and downs of bipolar. It is important to learn about warning signs so you can take action, explore ways to maintain healthy interpersonal relationships, establish routines that help stabilize you, and develop techniques to mitigate the potentially detrimental effects of uncontrollable mood swings. I can also provide support to you as you develop an understanding of which aspects of your identity and experiences relate to bipolar symptoms and which belong to you.

Depression

The numbness, self-criticism, and loss of joy or interest that are hallmarks of depression can be debilitating. I work with you to identify root causes of depression (whether they are neurochemical or based on life experience), explore the ways depression might be related to past experiences and how you can resolve the emotions remaining from them, learn how to maintain relationships even when you feel a strong desire to isolate, and develop daily routines that help keep you going. I also offer a supportive, validating space for you to express the pain and other emotions that can be associated with depression.

Dissociative disorders

I use somatic and parts work approaches to support you in reconnecting with your body, sense of self, interpersonal relationships, and external world. Dissociative conditions are usually the result of various forms of trauma, so part of this work involves addressing your trauma responses and helping you learn how to regulate your nervous system.

Trauma and PTSD

Healing from trauma is a complex process and requires a strong relationship with a therapist so that you feel safe enough to unpack your experiences and emotions. I offer a relational framework, focusing on validating your experience and discussing options you have for working through trauma to empower you to choose your own treatment. I use a variety of somatic tools, including brainspotting, to help you learn how to regulate your nervous system. I also offer a space in which you can explore all the emotional aspects of living through trauma so that you can integrate your experiences and find ways to move forward in your life.

Suicidal thoughts

Thinking about suicide can be one of the scariest, most painful experiences a person can have. While it is important to plan for keeping yourself safe when you’re feeling suicidal, it is also important to understand that these thoughts are there for a reason and learn about what they can teach you. I provide a framework in which you can interact with your suicidal thoughts, find out what they need, reconnect to hope, and learn how to take care of yourself in ways that are healthier and less distressing.

Chronic illness and pain

As a therapist with chronic illness, I know how hard it can be to adapt to living in a body you can't rely on. I work with you on maintaining a strong identity, lessening your secondary responses to pain and illness in order to reduce overall distress, and learning how to create a daily structure that gives you the necessary time to rest and treat your symptoms.

Grief and loss

The grief that often accompanies a loved one’s death, loss of relationship, change in health status, big move, change in work, or other significant life event can easily become overwhelming. Working through grief requires a supportive space in which to give voice to the various emotions that arise from it. I provide that space, help you explore how to integrate such losses into your understanding of yourself, and help you figure out how to move forward with life when you’re ready.

LGBTQIA+ identities

As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I am well versed in the social challenges, complex identity questions, and marginalization that can accompany these identities. I can help you work through questions around gender and sexuality, find ways to navigate interpersonal relationships with people who struggle to understand your identity, and build self-worth in the face of oppression.

Men's issues

What it means to be a man has been evolving over the past decades, and you might have questions about masculinity and how to navigate changing social standards. You may also be wondering how to manage anger, develop more self-awareness, and learn how to navigate emotions that you were taught were not acceptable. Perhaps you are trying to figure out how to have more satisfying relationships. I can help you explore all these aspects in a private and nonjudgmental environment.

Self-esteem

In an ideal environment, we develop self-esteem starting at a young age and over the course of our lives. However, many of us did not have support from adults in learning how to value ourselves. We may have internalized critical voices from our past or gone through painful experiences that left us feeling unwanted or unworthy. I provide support in helping you explore who you are in a deep way, find out what you like about yourself, and process past experiences or relationships that damaged your self-worth.

Sex-positive therapy

Few of us receive thorough sex education that includes navigating consent, understanding the emotional components of sex, and learning about our own desires and boundaries. In therapy, we work on those aspects of a fulfilling sexual life as well as looking at challenges you may be having and fears you’re bringing into sexual dynamics. I am knowledgeable about and affirming of people with alternative sexualities, including but not limited to kink, polyamory, and LGBTQ+ identities.

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