My Background: Creativity, Empathy, Healing
I have practiced various modalities of mind and body therapy since the mid-90’s and was a Certified Birth Doula, CD(DONA) in the early 2000's. Through this work, as well as creative ventures in art and music, I have learned that sensitivity, empathy and non-judgment are crucial to the best therapeutic relationships. I am currently licensed in Colorado (LPC 11787) and California (LPCC 2993) with BBS approval to treat couples and families.
My Core Belief: "The Person is not the Problem, the Problem is the Problem!"
Although I use many methods and models, my core practice is based in Narrative Therapy ( https://www.verywellmind.com/narrative-therapy-4172956 ) which holds that our identities are shaped by the stories we tell about our lives. Rather than seeking to repair internal "damage" or "deficit", Narrative Therapy externalizes problems and explores their effects on peoples’ lives. I work collaboratively to help my clients fully describe their stories and investigate the possibilities associated with them. My passion lies in asking questions that will allow you to think about problems in new ways, creating new avenues for growth, fulfillment and happiness.
My Clients: Mature teens and Emerging to Experienced adults
If you are new to therapy (or have never even considered it), please know that it doesn’t have to be hard or uncomfortable with awkward silences! Being in therapy doesn’t mean you are ‘sick’ or ‘need to be fixed’. I will gently guide you through our initial sessions and show you the ropes in a safe, focused, and non-judgmental way. We can talk about what is right for you and design a plan for short term work on focused issues, or begin a longer term partnership.
If you have tried therapy before, I encourage you to consider a method that will challenge you to think about problems in new ways. I love helping people figure out what they value, even in the face of ‘noise’ from our upbringing, our families, our relationships, and society’s expectations of us. I will ask questions you haven’t heard before and we will investigate your experiences, values and beliefs, identifying new possibilities associated with them. Together we will clear out more room for hope, humor, and (enter your highest aspirations here)!
( hold space )