I believe we all have the right to our own belief systems but often times sharing those with someone who is a complete stranger can be intimidating. I offer you a safe space to be YOU. I am a spiritual being that is open to embracing dialogue around non-traditional ways of thinking and believing. Because the client-therapist is an important relationship, my goal is to provide a high-quality service to you that includes quick and responsive communication as well as a huge library of resources to give you the tools you need for an action based and humanistic therapy process.
Many clients I meet with have said to me, “I don’t know what’s wrong with me” and my response is, “there’s absolutely nothing wrong with you and you’re perfect just as you are”. Many people have a perspective that they’re broken or need to be fixed and I say, we’re humans not furniture. No one needs to be fixed but perhaps there is need for some support and guidance to figure out what’s working versus what’s not working within one’s life.
I believe it’s important to share that I am passionate about social justice and the mental wellness for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). I continue to develop and grow my identity as a cis gender white woman as well as my personal intersectionality with other humans in the world. I understand my privilege and will always provide a safe space for BIPOC persons to be heard, validated and supported. I work everyday to be anti-racist and to be a voice within my circle and community to fight and dismantle the current system of oppression and racism.
I primarily utilize a person-centered approach with most individual clients because I believe the client should be in control and feel emotionally safe during their mental health journey. Part of the process is supporting a client so they can discover areas that need development and then support the progression of the client developing realistic and practical solutions that fit their mindset and lifestyle. I offer positive and unconditional regard meaning I accept and support you for who you are right at this moment. There are no expectations or judgments and I won’t tell you how to live your life. I accept, affirm and validate all walks of life.
One of the tools I use most is Strength-based Therapy which helps to explore what you do right and what you’re strengths are rather than focusing on shortcomings or your perception of what you’ve done wrong or past failures. My goal is to support you while you explore, self-reflect and develop new mindsets that allow for evolution of personal love, growth and acceptance. I also encourage the development of a positive perspective and increased resiliency so that one is able to bend rather than break when life’s tsunami hits.
Motivational interviewing is another model that I utilize. Again, using self-exploration, we’ll look at what motivates you for things to be different and how those changes could possibly impact your quality of life. Solution-focused therapy assists with identifying and clarifying goals and is very helpful with developing behavior and lifestyle changes. If you’ve experienced trauma, then we’ll look at utilizing Trauma-Informed Care which means treating the “whole” person rather than just “getting through” the event.
So as you can see, there is no one size fits all approach. I am very eclectic and tailor my services to the client I am supporting. Developing therapeutic goals is something I spend a lot of time on allowing the client to dictate what they feel is what’s currently needed in their life. Although I am not opposed to pharmaceutical therapy, I encourage clients to examine their beliefs, lifestyle and physical health to determine if prescription medication is the best choice for them to begin, modify or discontinue. There are many natural supplements as well as lifestyle and behavior changes that can be incredibly supportive to chronic mental illness.
If you feel my approach is a good fit for you, request a complimentary 30-minute consultation to determine if we’re a good fit. I look forward to hearing from you! Take care!
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