I am a therapist who respects the complexity of each human life and therefore, I don’t provide surface-level solutions to individuals in pain or couples and families with relationships that have been causing hurt. Instead, I help them explore not only their current struggles but the emotional experiences that lie beneath. I aim for patients to understand their suffering and how it relates to who they are, how they live, and how they relate to those around them. The more they understand, the less pain will drive their decision-making and relationships.
As a therapist, it is essential to be unafraid of being direct and honest so patients can recognize patterns that have been unhelpful. I have a knack for expressing the truth of what I’m seeing with kindness, respect, and empathy. This is especially integral to my therapy with couples and families who are often aware of harmful dynamics but cannot verbalize them for themselves. Being willing to shine a light on what typically goes unsaid allows individuals, couples, and families to take great strides toward change.
I am not only curious about each person’s personal history but also how their existence is impacted by the culture around them. This approach was influenced by my previous work with LGBTQ+ individuals and couples. I came to appreciate how people, whether a part of marginalized communities or not, can be affected when they don’t exist within the terms society has deemed as normal.
Therapy with both couples and families offers a sense of gravity and urgency given the importance of these relationships in people’s lives. For couples therapy, the goal is clear: build a healthier, happier relationship or split up. There is an art to balancing the needs and perspectives of each partner while keeping the relationship as the central concern. I relish witnessing how couples can progress each session as they develop new ways of being together. Family therapy also reveals a deep commitment from each family member who shows up to take accountability for the unique role they play in a system that is no longer working. Beyond the tension that may currently exist, family therapy offers thrilling potential for growth when a family comes together to look honestly at and change how they relate to one another.
Though life is happening very quickly for kids and teens, the pain they’re in is real and needs attention. I take the suffering of kids and teens seriously, while also taking a playful approach, when appropriate, to build trust and access feelings that are more challenging to articulate. Kids and teens can be more hesitant in the therapy environment than adults, but they are also perceptive and pick up when a therapist genuinely cares to know them. I am motivated by how free kids and teens can be when they are comfortable in therapy. With an awareness of how difficult profound suffering can be to express clearly for teens and children, as well as adults, I approach therapy with a sense of openness and creativity to allow for different kinds of expressions to take form.