Therapy is political.

Our political and social climate has a direct impact on all of us. One of the most important parts of therapy, and one of the biggest contributors to its success for the client, is the quality of our relationship (called the therapeutic alliance). So for our therapy to be successful, it’s extremely important that you feel safe with me. For that reason, I believe it is important to share some of my beliefs and values, including that I am queer and trans-allied, BIPOC allied, and generally hold progressive political views.

My identities: I am a white, straight, cisgender woman. I am able-bodied and neurodivergent. I am married and the parent of one toddler. I belong to many privileged groups, and it is my responsibility to acknowledge that and keep that in mind in the therapeutic work that I do. As a licensed clinical social worker, I have received extensive education and training around social justice issues, and participate in continuing education (both formally and in my own research) around issues of race, class, gender, sexuality, and general cultural competence/humility.

That being said: you are the expert on your own experience! No group is a monolith. I look forward to hearing your story. :-)

If this is the vibe you’re looking for in your therapy sessions, click the button to schedule a free consultation OR email me to schedule a first session!

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My therapeutic approach:

Therapy is a highly personal experience, and I believe in tailoring my therapeutic approach to each individual client. Here are some theories and modalities I may pull from in our work together:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy—How we talk to ourselves matters. We may examine your thoughts, work on building awareness around unhelpful self-talk, and develop some more helpful framing around thoughts that are particularly sticky. In many cases, our work will also incorporate behavioral changes through routines and self-care practices.

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)—ACT is a branch of CBT that helps us learn to stop fighting against our unhelpful thoughts and feelings (which often leads to more suffering), and instead learn to quiet their noise, through practices like defusion, mindfulness, and committed action, so that we can live a meaningful life aligned with our personal values.

  • Compassion-Focused Therapy— Shame and guilt can be especially difficult emotions to work through. However, refusing to show ourselves the same care and compassion we give to others can often be what keeps us stuck in those difficult emotions or negative or toxic situations. I consider self-compassion to be one of the most important skills for clients to develop in order to cultivate a healthier relationship with themselves, and use this approach in some form with all therapy clients.

  • Systems Theory/Feminist Lens—I firmly believe that our mental health is deeply informed by the larger systems we are a part of (family, work, social, etc.) and though deep, often unconscious socialization of norms, roles, and expectations for what it means to be a human in America. Sometimes, breaking down these assumptions around race, sexuality, gender, work, etc. and their impact on us can be a springboard for deeper work and healing.