MY AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Individual Counseling and Psychotherapy
Individual counseling and psychotherapy are my primary ways of working with clients. Nearly everyone needs some professional help and support at some time in their life. If this is one of those times for you, together we can look at the causes and determine ways to address them.
College Students
The college years are a time of change and challenge, but can also be a time of real opportunity for growth. In my twelve years of working with college students, I have developed a deep empathy for students and a deep understanding of the unique challenges they face, as well as valuable experience in helping students navigate these challenges and make the changes necessary to thrive.
Women's Issues
While many mental health issues women face (depression and anxiety for instance) may be unrelated to their gender, often women are culturally impacted by their gender in ways that make them vulnerable to particular stresses, such as caretaking, work/life balance, issues with self-esteem, postpartum depression, body image, sexual objectification and violence, etc. As we work together we can come to a greater understanding of what the pressures and stresses are for you and find new ways to cope that will lead to a more satisfying life.
Life Transitions
Times of change and transition are nearly always difficult (sometimes even when they are positive changes like going off to college or marriage or a new baby) but these times can also bring new opportunities for re-examing your life and making necessary changes or developing new coping skills. Often the first step is finding someone to talk with who can help you understand what is happening and figure out where to go from here.
Family of Origin/ Dysfunctional Families
Let's be honest. All families are dysfunctional, it's simply a matter of degree! That is to say, no family is perfect. It's often helpful to look back at our families of origin- not for purposes of blame, but simply to better understand why we have developed the patterns and coping mechanisms that we have so that we can move forward and make the necessary changes. We don't need to get stuck in the past, but I believe looking at the past is a vital part of understanding yourself- and that's where all change starts.
Depression and Anxiety
Depression and anxiety are flip sides of the same coin and often go hand-in-hand. Both come in various forms and levels of severity. We can assess your particular type and decide what comes next. In some cases this might include referral to a physician for medication evaluation, but in many cases this will involve developing coping skills and strategies to mitigate your symptoms.
Stress
Have you often wondered "Why am I so overwhelmed? What am I doing wrong that makes me feel this way?" Life is inevitably stressful at times, but you may be handling your stress in ways that aren't helpful or even inadvertently making yourself feel worse with some of the messages you carry that you're unaware of and some of the ways you are trying to cope. Let's look at that together and see what needs to change.
Boundary Issues
Our personal and psychological boundaries are a part of our lives absolutely every day and they can have a tremendous impact on the stress and pressure we experience in our lives. The question becomes- what are you responsible for and when are you carrying responsibility for others in ways that are not helpful to anyone and may in fact be getting in the way of growth for everyone involved? These patterns are developed over a lifetime and can be difficult to untangle, but the difference it makes can be amazing.
Figuring Out What's Wrong When You're Not Sure
Sometimes you might not know what's wrong, but you know something's not right. You may find it difficult to express. Some psychological problems are vague or elusive. It can be very helpful to lay all the cards on the table with an objective professional who knows the right questions to ask and can guide you to a better understanding of what's causing you to feel the way you do. I welcome the opportunity to help you begin that process.