My Areas of Focus.
The following are some areas of focus in my work. These are areas in which I have extensive experience and training. If you see something on this list, it also means I love working with it, I know it’s something I work well with, and I have fun doing that work. At the same time, this is not an exhaustive list. If you don’t see your particular area of concern here but resonate with the rest of my website, please still reach out to see if we could be a good fit.
LGBTQIA+
Working with the queer and trans communities is one of my areas of passion. I have studied the intersection of queerness and mental health extensively at the graduate and post-graduate level. I understand that these are frightening times for the community and that many are needing extra support right now. Whether you are wanting to explore your sexuality or gender in therapy or are simply wanting to work on other concerns in a safe and affirming space, I would be happy to talk with you.
New parents
Becoming a parent is one of the hardest and most transformative moments in one’s life. The perinatal period is one of immense change, and that is as true on the psychological level as it is on the practical level.
During pregnancy and the postpartum period, the brain and body undergo drastic changes, particularly for birthing parents, but this is true for each parent involved in caregiving for an infant or young child. While this can be an incredibly challenging process, the plasticity of the brain at this time also provides a unique opportunity to heal and grow.
There can be so many reasons to come to therapy at this time in your life. Before becoming parents, we often have a particular image of parenthood. Sometimes, our actual experiences surprise (or even disappoint) us. Becoming a parent can also unearth our own unresolved wounds in ways that catch us off guard.
I have postgraduate training on the experiences of parents in the perinatal period and am ready to help you steady yourself during this period of upheaval so that you can enjoy your own life and your little one the way you had hoped.
FAmily of Origin Issues
The spiritual teacher Ram Dass said, “If you think you’re enlightened, go spend a week with your family.” While it’s true that we can all relate to our families getting under our skin, some of us have more family stuff to work through than others.
I have extensive experience working with the children of parents who were absent, emotionally immature, personality disordered, or for some other reason were unable to be there for their children in the ways that they needed. I understand how painful it can be, and how isolating it can be to constantly hear, “but she’s your mother!” or “but he’s your father!”
I also know how often these relationships can make us feel so stuck. It can be infuriating and disempowering that these relationships continue to hold such sway over us, no matter how old we get. I know that it can at times feel hopeless that we will ever be able to live our own lives on our own terms.
Most of my postgraduate training has been centered around how these early caregiving relationships impact us—and how we can heal where we need to heal. While it might seem hopeless, it’s not. Please reach out if you resonate with these concerns. I’m happy to talk with you.
Relationship Concerns
Relationships are some of the most important things in our lives. Take a moment to think about the most important and impactful moments in your life—they all take place within the context of some sort of relationship. Even if it’s something like graduating from college when you didn’t think you would—your professors, fellow students, and maybe also friends or partner were all a part of that moment.
And yet, relationships can be the most vexing things in our lives. Maybe you’ve noticed that you keep having the same relational problems, or that you keep getting involved with the same kind of people over and over again. Try as you might to break out of these patterns, you find yourself back in the same place. It can be incredibly painful and confusing.
I can help you figure out what’s going on. Together, we can explore what these patterns are and where they might come from so that we can figure out new ways of having different kinds of relational experiences.
Polyamory & Ethical Nonmonogamy
If you are polyamorous or practice ethical non-monogamy, it can be extra daunting to find a good therapist. There still can be so much stigma and it can be hard to trust that you won’t be pathologized for how and whom you love.
I have been working with ENM/polyamory my whole career. Not only will I not judge you or pathologize you, but you won’t have to spend your session time educating me about the basics of polyamory. I am happy to work with you whether you want to address issues pertaining to polyamory or ethical nonmonogamy, or simply want to work on unrelated issues in a poly-affirming space.
Spiritual & Religious Concerns
Our spirituality is one of the most intimate and vulnerable parts of our lives. For this reason, it can be at once incredibly important and incredibly difficult to talk about.
Spirituality and religion can be sources of great joy and resilience in our lives and also a source of deep pain. Unfortunately, many people carry deep wounds due to harmful or traumatizing religious experiences or messaging.
Still, for many people, their spirituality continues to hold deep meaning in spite of prior wounds. If your spiritual or religious path is important to you, I am ready and willing to honor that in our work together.
I will not force any belief systems or beliefs upon you. My personal beliefs stay out of the therapy space, but I have a working knowledge of (and respect for) most of the world’s major religious traditions as well as many nontraditional spiritual paths, and I am excited to hear about your unique spiritual life and honor its place in our work together.
Young Adulthood
Young adulthood can be incredibly difficult. Finding your footing in adulthood while still figuring out who you are, what you want out of life, and navigating our increasingly complex world is no easy task. The “quarter life crisis” can be very real and leave you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, depressed, or all of that and more.
I love working with people navigating this stage of life. I have extensive experience doing so and have also studied this unique developmental stage at the postgraduate level. Also—I’ve been there. I get it. And I love helping people at this stage answer some of their big questions and work on their core issues while they still have relative flexibility in life in order to take control and set their own course. If any of this sounds like you, I’d love to work with you.
Life Transitions
Transitions are hard at any age, and they can stir up a lot for us. Whether you’re moving, getting a divorce, going back to school, or otherwise adjusting to new life demands—moments of change can open us up in ways that are challenging but provide an opportunity to grow in ways we wouldn’t have otherwise. If you could use some support during a time of transition, I could be a good fit for you.