Services
I work with older adolescents, college and graduate students, and adults in individual therapy utilizing evidence-based treatments. Additionally, I offer professional mentoring and individual supervision toward licensure.
My specialty areas are:
Anxiety (general worry, social fears, perfectionism)
Depression and mood difficulties
Adjustment disorder
Trauma/PTSD
Emotional dysregulation
Personality disorders
Interpersonal concerns and relationship difficulties
General stress (developmental and life transitions, parenting issues, aging parents, grief, loss, divorce, career difficulties)
Personal exploration and growth (career counseling, work-life balance, social and communication skills).
What is evidence-based treatment and how does it impact me?
Evidence-based treatment is defined as “the integration of the best available research with clinical expertise in the context of patient characteristics, culture, and preferences” (Levant, 2005). Additionally, studies shows that the most important factor in successful therapeutic outcomes is the “goodness of fit” – or quality of the relationship – between therapist and client (Lambert & Barley, 2001).
As a result, I focus on incorporating evidence-based treatments with: 1) your specific and unique characteristics and preferences, and 2) on building a close working relationship with you in order to provide you with the most effective treatment available.
What is Mindfulness-Based Therapy?
Mindfulness is a method of becoming more aware of oneself and one’s environment in a non-judgmental way. Mindfulness-based therapy is about learning how to notice one’s thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations in the moment without invalidating one’s experience. It promotes acceptance of thoughts and paired with other therapies, it can help individuals to become more tolerant of stress, regulate emotions more effectively, and interact with others in ways that are more rational and effective.
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?
CBT is a well-researched, collaborative approach that focuses on changing patterns of thinking or behavior that negatively impact a person’s quality of life. The goal of CBT is to help build a skill set that allows individuals to become aware of how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interrelated. Once individuals develop awareness, they can then make changes that can lead to enduring improvement in their feelings, mood, and daily functioning. A mindfulness-based approach to CBT lends itself to the development of ongoing awareness and acceptance of the moment, which can help individuals notice triggers and better manage distress.
What is Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)?
DBT is a research-based, cognitive-behavioral approach that places emphasis on changing patterns of behavior through increasing individuals’ ability to regulate emotions. At times, individuals can become emotionally dysregulated by seemingly small events due to a variety of reasons. The reactions following the emotional dysregulation can cause suffering and distress. DBT helps to find balance between accepting oneself as “good enough,” while gently recognizing the need for growth and change. DBT is a support-oriented, collaborative, and skill-based process that is especially helpful in the development of interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance, and emotion regulation.
What is Psychodynamic Therapy?
Psychodynamic therapy focuses on the psychological roots of emotional suffering. Its distinctive features are self-reflection and self-examination alongside the use of the relationship between therapist and client as a window into problematic relationship patterns in the client’s life. Its goal is not only to ease the most evident symptoms but to help people lead healthier lives. Research studies show that psychodynamic psychotherapy sets in motion psychological processes that lead to ongoing change, even after therapy has ended, thus making this a highly effective therapy (Shedler, 2010).
