Therapy Approach
What is relationship-based and trauma informed therapy grounded in social justice?
A good relationship with your therapist is the most important factor in determining a successful outcome.
Connecting with my clients is the heart of my work. The experience of feeling deeply understood is uniquely healing. Most of us are more capable of making change after we have been truly seen and heard.
Within the therapeutic relationship, the lens through which I am conceptualizing our work is trauma informed. This involves the understanding that mental health symptoms and even what we consider personality traits can be a response to trauma. Trauma changes how a person regulates their thoughts, feelings, and their ability to care for themselves emotionally and psychologically.
As a therapist who is grounded in social justice, I understand how living day to day with the enormity of social justice and climate issues can feel overwhelming. I am continuously learning to deepen my understanding of experiences specific to BIPOC, LGBTQIA folks, and allies. With all my clients, I approach our work with an awareness of how our internal processes can be a reflection of the culture at large.
Treating
Throughout my career as a therapist, I have had the honor of working with people from a wide variety of backgrounds. While I have a specialty of supporting pregnancy and postpartum mental health, this is a fairly comprehensive list of issues I have experience treating.
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD and trauma symptoms
- Grief and loss
- Pregnancy, postpartum, new parenthood
- Birth trauma
- Fertility struggles, miscarriage, abortion
- Stress and life transitions
- Perfectionism
- Relationship concerns, attachment, and family of origin
- Issues related to racial, sexual, or gender discrimination
- Issues related to gender identity and sexual orientation
- Recovering from experiences in high demand groups, cults, or religious abuse
- Issues related to sex work
- Issues related to physical, sexual, and emotional abuse
- Experiences in foster care and adoption
- Chronic health conditions and chronic pain
- Issues related to equity and activism
- Issues relevant to education professionals and social workers
- Issues related to ADHD and neurodivergence