SERVICES
Who I See & How I Work
There are a lot of therapists to choose from; I get it. It can be VERY overwhelming to decide who might be a good fit and who you might learn from when you might not even be sure what you are looking for. I offer individual therapy services to adolescents and adults and parenting support for parents & caregivers. I see clients remotely in California and Oregon and have an in-person option for clients in Portland, Oregon. Scroll down to read more about what I offer and what it means.
Please note: I currently do not bill insurance. Please visit my rates page to learn more.
INDIVIDUAL THERAPY
Adolescents (12-20)
Why They Call
Be it the concern of a parent, teacher, or the adolescent themselves, a lot is going on in the lives of children and teens these days, and it can be very worrisome to watch them struggle and not know how to help. I see children and teens aged 12+ in person or via telehealth if needed. I specialize in symptoms of anxiety and attention issues. Sometimes there’s been trouble at school or with friends. Maybe they can’t explain why but always seem to feel angry, overly tired, or have stomach aches. A very common occurrence is a concern that your teen seems to be scared or overly anxious about things they had no problem with before.
What We’ll Do
My work with adolescents is largely based on attachment theory and developmental psychology. That means we will look first to create a safe, secure environment and relationship for kids and teens to explore and understand the root of their emotions. Naming how they feel and normalizing their struggle paves the way toward healthy coping mechanisms. How that exploration unfolds looks different for each child and their developmental stage and sensory preference. Maybe one prefers to draw or paint, and maybe another wants to create a collage or sculpt clay, maybe some feel ready to just sit and chat. No matter the approach, we will work to manage distressing symptoms, but we won’t stop there. Ideally, with the help of parents/caregivers, we will look to the root of the behavior so we can address WHY this symptom is present in order to move forward. When the alarm dies down, we can take the time to think toward the future, helping them connect to their inner selves, intuition, and dreams.
I encourage caregivers to be involved as much as possible and regularly meet with parents/caregivers for support and integration.
INDIVIDUAL THERAPY
Adults
Why They Call
I often work with adults struggling with anxiety, depression, or a general feeling that things could and should feel better. Sometimes, there aren't obvious symptoms but a sense that something seems to interfere with their mental health, relationships, or the life they want. I help people see themselves from a new angle, uncovering unconscious beliefs and seeing the collective parts of themselves from a new and accepting perspective.
What We’ll Do
My approach draws from attachment theory and depth psychology, and I often utilize parts work. Parts work means that we might look at how there are parts of you that feel lost, parts of you that feel strong, and parts of you that seem too hard on yourself. We can look at all the parts and learn about how they may help or hinder your growth. Attachment theory means my work centers around creating a safe space for you to explore and understand your inner world. Just like we would want to know WHY we have the rash on our skin instead of just putting a cream on it, depth psychological theory encourages us to look beneath the presenting symptom. Depression is a symptom, anxiety is a symptom, feeling unloveable is a symptom, and that is where the work begins. With acceptance and greater perspectives, clients can uncover unconscious patterns and beliefs, discover new insights, and release what may have felt prior, like an invisible weight holding them back.
With therapy as an empathetic mirror, we can see ourselves differently, learn why we do the things we do, and soon learn to change patterns, tell new stories, and feel whole, leading to a greater sense of purpose, creativity, and connection to the world around us.
INDIVIDUAL & Family THERAPY
Parenting Support
Why They Call
As a mom of 3 (two teens and a young adult), I can say firsthand that being a parent is the most complicated, sticky, fun, beautiful, stressful, and thanklessly fulfilling thing I’ve ever done. To some, it seems to come easy, but for those of us who had parents who didn’t provide us with a good model of what “good parenting” looks like, we might feel lacking in instinct. For others, one child seems to have come from nowhere, totally different than our other kids, and we are lost. Are we too easy on them? Are we too hard on them? Do we expect too little? Not enough? Not to mention the tricky teen years where the feedback loop is less than gratifying, it is important that we all have support to do this very important work of helping our kids become the amazing adults we hope and dream for them to become.
What We’ll Do
I love to support parents, single or partnered, with a space to share what I have learned about developmental phases, applicable research, or just a place to be able to vent or get the high five you deserve. I’ve made a ton of mistakes, and I’ve had a lot of wins, but what I do know for certain is we shouldn’t have to do it alone, and perspective helps every time. Each parenting support session will be customized to the specific needs of that family, determined after an initial assessment session. We may do joint parent/caregiver sessions, just one parent/caregiver. It could be weekly, and it could be every other month. You’ll get the support you need, how and when you need it.