These approaches aren't separate boxes that I switch between during session. They often overlap and work together. Depending on your goals, personality, and what you're experiencing, we'll naturally draw from different approaches in ways that make sense for you.
Humanistic:
You are a person before you are a diagnosis.
Humanistic therapy is the foundation of everything I do. Before we talk about coping skills or patterns, I want to understand you. I want to know your story, your values, what matters to you, and the life you want to build. My goal is to create a non-judgmental space where you feel accepted, understood, and free to show up exactly as you are.
You'll often hear me encourage you to be gentle with yourself. You may also hear me talk about separating the person from the behavior so we can approach your experiences with greater acceptance, understanding, empathy, and self-compassion rather than shame.
DBT:
Two things can be true at the same time.
DBT helps us find the balance between acceptance and change. Sometimes that means learning practical tools to manage overwhelming emotions, improve relationships, or navigate stressful situations. Other times it means recognizing that you can be doing your best while also working toward something different.
You'll often hear me talk about holding two seemingly opposing thoughts at the same time. You may also hear me encourage mindful check-ins that only take a few seconds but can tell us a lot. Maybe you realize you're hungry, need a sip of water, could use a little sunshine, or simply need to take a deep breath. Together, we'll practice responding to yourself with intention and without judgment, rather than reacting in the moment.
Psychodynamic:
Sometimes the present starts making sense when we understand the past.
Many of our beliefs, relationship patterns, and ways of coping were learned long before we realized they existed. Together, we'll become curious about where those patterns came from. Our goal isn't to blame the past, but to understand how it continues to influence the present. Once we understand the pattern, we have more freedom to decide whether it's still serving you.
You'll often hear me ask questions about your past, your relationships, and the experiences that shaped the way you see yourself and the world around you. You may also hear me praise the strength your younger self had and thank the survival skills they developed to get through difficult moments. Those skills helped you survive. Together, we'll decide which ones still serve you today and which ones you're ready to replace with new ones.
Freud may make a few guest appearances, but only the theories that are actually helpful for you.
Trauma-Informed:
Your nervous system has a story, too.
You are safe here, and you are in control here.
Trauma-informed therapy recognizes that difficult experiences can shape the way we think, feel, relate to others, and move through the world. We'll move at a pace that feels right for you while building understanding, processing difficult experiences, strengthening resilience, and re-establishing a sense of safety in yourself and the world.
You'll often hear me remind you that you are in control of the pace of therapy, especially when it comes to processing trauma. Together, we'll identify grounding skills, create a plan for moments when emotions feel overwhelming, and make sure you feel safe before ending each session.
Sometimes, we'll even pause to acknowledge something simple but true:
Trauma really sucks.
Attachment-Based:
The way we learn to connect often begins long before we can put it into words.
Our earliest relationships teach us what to expect from ourselves and others. They can shape how we trust, communicate, ask for help, and respond to closeness or conflict. Together, we'll explore those patterns with curiosity rather than judgment, helping you build relationships, including the one with yourself, that feel more secure and authentic.
We'll explore your attachment style and how your temperament, life experiences, and upbringing, not just your home life, have influenced the way you connect with others. You'll often hear me remind you that attachment is about understanding the story that shaped you and the way you relate to others, so you can decide what you want your relationships to look like moving forward.
We'll also talk about what it means to fight fair. Whether it's with a partner, family member, or friend, we'll work to understand both your attachment needs and theirs, learn how to communicate those needs effectively, and practice staying connected even when emotions are running high.
Strengths-Based:
You are more than the struggles that brought you here.
Therapy isn't just about identifying what's difficult; it's also about recognizing what's already working. Together, we'll identify the strengths, resilience, and values you've developed throughout your life and use them as the foundation for growth. Even when you can't see your own strengths, I'll help you recognize them until you're ready to see them yourself.
You'll often hear me say, "If it's working, we don't fix it." Sometimes you're already using incredible coping skills or leaning on strengths you didn't even realize you had. Together, we'll find them, strengthen them, and build on what is already helping you.
You'll also hear me remind you that your healing doesn't have to look like anyone else's. It doesn't have to make sense to anyone but you. If it works, it works, and that's a win.
CBT:
Our thoughts matter, but they aren't always telling us the truth.
CBT helps us understand how our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are constantly influencing one another. Sometimes, changing one part of the triangle creates changes in the others. Together, we'll explore those connections and examine whether the stories your mind is telling are accurate, helpful, or simply familiar.
You'll often hear me remind you that a thought is just a thought. It's an experience you're having, not a fact, prediction, or certainty. How we respond to that thought influences our emotions and behaviors, just as our emotions and behaviors can influence the thoughts we have.
You'll also hear a few unexpected metaphors along the way. Sometimes, a different perspective, or even a little humor,is exactly what helps us step out of a spiral, see the situation more clearly, and respond with intention instead of fear.
