Specialities

Trauma is a response to a deeply distressing event that overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope and diminishes a person’s sense of self. Trauma is often considered subjective, as it is a person’s internal beliefs and their innate sensitivity to the stress of these events. I believe that trauma focused therapy is an effective step in helping to understand how traumatic experiences can shape and impact an individual’s mental, behavioral, emotional, and physical well-being. These sessions will focus on emotional and physical regulation. Trauma therapy allows you to sensitively re-narrate your story in an attempt to reclaim and redefine what that past hurt meant and will continue to mean to you in the future.

Attachment-based psychotherapy explores the client’s relationship through the lens of attachment. The type of attachments we have developed in our early childhood continue to inform our feelings and actions today, and it’s important to examine what affects our relationships. The hope with this therapeutic approach is to understand how unhealthy attachments play a role in our relationships, and re-writing that attachment narrative to form healthier bonds, and get our needs met.

Positive psychology focuses on positive emotions and strengths. It is based on the belief that people have the desire to lead fulfilling lives and cultivate their best self. Positive psychology uses interventions such as mindfulness. Mindfulness is bringing one’s attention to the internal and external experiences occurring in the present moment. These can be developed through the practice of body scans, breathing exercises and mindful listening. I will incorporate these techniques into each session.

As a multicultural clinician of color, I am attuned to race, racism and oppression. Working from a social justice lens, I understand the issues and concerns clients bring to therapy to address cultural differences, intersectionality, and power and privilege impact their dynamic.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an effective research based form of treatment addressing a range of disorders and symptoms including depression, anxiety, eating disorders and stress. It focuses on understanding the connection between our thoughts, emotions and behavior. These sessions focus on identifying specific thoughts and beliefs, labeling your feelings and exploring the reasons for your actions. There is homework given at the end of each session to help strengthen new behaviors (coping skills) and gain insight. Homework may consist of journaling, thought-log worksheets and relaxation techniques.