Therapy will always begin with discussing what has brought you into therapy. I gather basic information including bio-psycho-social elements that help inform me on how symptoms show up for you and how I might be helpful. The initial session also helps me understand how I can be trauma-informed and culturally sensitive for you. Additionally, we will create goals that are part of a treatment plan that lets us know what we are working toward and if we are making progress.

Above all, it is important to establish a sense of safety in therapy. I do this by being non-judgmental and true to myself (congruent) to ensure consistency from session to session. I adhere to the American Counseling Association's code of ethics regarding confidentiality. I also take client feedback seriously and make changes to my approach as needed. I make space for clients with different orientations and backgrounds including collectivist cultures and LGBTQIA. I also make space for open conversations about suicidality and self-harm.

Different clients like different types of therapy and we can explore what is helpful for you. In all situations, I provide reflective listening and open-ended questions to stimulate a better understanding of one's self and insight development. Beyond the basics, I use a variety of evidence-based therapy orientations depending on the client's needs including EMDR, CBT, DBT, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Person-centered, and Somatic experiencing.

There are a few exceptions to confidentiality which include if there is a serious threat of harm to you or someone else, abuse of a child, elder, or dependent, court subpoena, and clinical supervision. Please ask me about any of these is you have questions.

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is one of two internationally recognized evidence-based treatments for trauma. While it was first targeted toward people with a PTSD diagnosis, it is now known as a treatment that can have significant effects on experiences of anxiety, depression, and other issues. EMDR requires for the client to have a secure bond with the therapist, and to develop a treatment plan for traumatic memories (which can reach back into early childhood and sometimes appear as "small" things). Then we use bilateral stimulation (moving eyes from side to side or tapping shoulders or legs from side to side) while I guide the client into their adaptive information processing (AIP). There is more to this process, so feel free to ask me quesitons.

It's important to validate clients and reflect back cognitive and emotional content in therapy sessions. When clients appear activated or come into session feeling stressed, I use our time for guided deep breathing, body scans, and other methods for switching off the nervous system. I respect clients' values and interests while also challenging behaviors or ways of thinking that may be keeping a client stuck in their current discomfort.