What you can expect from me in our work together…

→ Though highly eclectic, I am at heart an existential therapist. I am relational, so you can expect me to show up as a whole, real person, offering you reflection on how it feels to be in relationship with you and asking you questions about how you feel toward me. You will see facial expressions! You will see playfulness, as I make jokes, offer commentary, and share musings on the current state of the world.

→ Echoing Peter Levine, I feel that one of the first steps in healing is becoming embodied, which happens by connecting with the felt sense. This means that our work will be process-oriented, which will involve tuning into bodily sensation, emotions and thinking patterns to notice what is going on inside of you, viewing these as drivers behind your behaviors and choices. This redirects energy away from treating symptoms or viewing your experience through the lens of a DSM diagnosis. We will be peering into your inner world where all internal voices have their say. For some, this feels arbitrary, uncomfortable and even esoteric in some aspects. Expect to be asked to shift out of intellectualization and problem-solving modes of thinking to tune into how you are existing.

→ For me, therapy is about being with, not telling folks what to do. There may be times that I offer strategies, exercises or homework-based experiments inspired by what you are sharing, though these are meant to be exploratory, not prescriptive.

→ I honor ritual, spirituality, ancestral connection, intuition, expressive art, mythology, experiences that cannot be explained rationally or scientifically, and expanded states of consciousness. I welcome the incorporation of dreamwork, astrology, tarot/oracle cards, and other magical tools into therapy. If this is not your cup of tea, we can still work together, of course! Just be aware that these values are likely to show up in the work.

→ I do not subscribe to the idea that therapy exists to make us feel better. Or that emotional health comes from self-control or elimination of “bad” feelings, distressing thoughts, scary memories, pain, unpleasant images or uncomfortable physical sensations. I will view these experiences as signals that should be attended to, factors that can motivate action (which may lead to feeling better, but that isn’t the goal).

→ Compassionate inquiry is foundational in my work. I will ask questions and give prompting. I will not leave you in silence, unless the situation calls for it. I will ask probing, personal and challenging questions. You can always reject a question.

→ I will ask you to take responsibility for your life, your growth, and how you show up throughout this process. I want you to be empowered in our work together, meaning that I want you to be able to say “no” when you need to, to seek out resources and come to your own rescue when you are in distress. I ask you to be as interested and curious toward yourself as I am toward you. If you find yourself in a place where you feel like you need therapy or else the world may crumble, my style may not work for you. If you see a therapist as someone who holds all the answers and solutions, I am sure to disappoint you.

I am not the best fit if…

← you need treatment for active substance addiction, an eating disorder, suicidal ideation or behavior, psychosis, specific phobias, crisis response or case management. I am an outpatient-level therapist, meaning that the support I provide is the lowest level of intensity and involvement. I am not on-call between appointments. If you are currently facing these challenges, you deserve care that is going to meet your needs, which will likely be more intensive and more specialized than what I can give.

← you are court-mandated to seek out counseling, or otherwise pressured to do so by an external entity who is not you.

← your interest is primarily diagnostic. While I do diagnose mental health disorders (i.e. anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc), if you are looking for psychological testing, an opinion on medication management, or are curious about having ADHD, ASD, or a personality disorder, a psychiatrist or psychologist is more in-line with what you are seeking.

← you are looking for a quick tip, hack, or life advice to get you to a specific result. It’s natural to want badly to find “the answer”, as we all feel this at times. Just know that my approach is going to focus more on the s l o w tasks of inner work. Any answers will be arrived at through collaborative exploration. And lots of time.

← you wish to work with a therapist who is highly directive, structured, and takes control over session time. I am inclined to go with the flow, trusting that the direction you are taking will lead to insight. I prioritize understanding over productivity. Working with me is not programmatic; it won’t be like taking a class or a workshop. You will be the driving force and I will work with whatever you bring into the room.