How I help.
Each person has a unique and precious life experience and history. I believe in each individual’s resilience and innate capacity to heal at any stage of life. My philosophy of therapy is to help people (re)connect to their healing power and to empower their strengths. Understanding someone is particular to the intersection of their age, family situation, current environment, life experiences, culture, gender, class, race, religion, and spirituality. Viewing a person holistically without judgment is core to my practice. I believe that the process of therapy is a way to reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, encourage personal growth, and find the person’s own path with a more refined vision.
I work with individual youths and adults who are suffering from symptoms of depression, anxiety, anger, and other emotional distress related to loss and grief, relational conflict, traumatic events, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), ADHD, and existential difficulty through life transitions. I employ both talk therapy and non-verbal communication such as art therapy, mindfulness, EMDR, and the awareness of the connection between mind and body. I also work with intercultural couples who have communication issues arising from their differing cultural backgrounds, communication styles, and languages.
During our sessions, I utilize a variety of therapeutic methods individualized to best meet each person’s needs. Talk therapy is integral, however utilizing creative processes including symbols and metaphors, is a safe means for the individual to explore personal concerns, relational conflict, and existential crisis when verbal communication is difficult. Art therapy can also be part of a treatment plan when it seems appropriate for the person. The therapy room is a safe and nurturing environment and I approach each client as non-judgmentally as possible. In cases of crisis, however, my approach will be more directive as it often requires urgent intervention.
I value the integration of Eastern and Western philosophies and theories as well as the Jungian concept of human development as the life-long process of individuation. My practice revolves around trauma-informed care and mindfulness. The tools I utilize are drawn from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), neuroscience and autonomic nervous system (Polyvagal theory) and interpersonal neurobiology (attachment theory), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and art therapy. Each of these areas have provided me with ways of understanding a person’s anxiety, symptoms of trauma, and interpersonal difficulty.