Specialty Areas
Trauma and PTSD
Most people have experienced stressful experiences in their lives that continue to impact them today - whether they may realize it or not. I specialize in working with all forms of trauma. Below you will find a list of some of the various types of trauma - although there are many others. “Trauma can be anything that overwhelms our ability to cope in the moment, leading to a state of fight, flight, freeze, or ‘fawn’ (siding with the perpetrator).”
Childhood Abuse, Neglect, Bullying /Cyber-bullying, Sexual Abuse, Sexual Assault/Rape, Sexual Harassment, Emotional/Verbal Abuse, Racism, Betrayal Trauma
Domestic Violence, Combat/War, Terrorism, Death of a Loved One, Car Accident, Discrimination, Divorce, Homophobia/Transphobia, Parental Addiction (drugs, alcohol)
Witnessing Death/Violence, Frequent Moves, Natural Disaster, Abandonment, Moral Injury, Community/School Violence, Poverty, Medical/Dental Trauma, Religious Trauma/Spiritual Abuse
Self Esteem and Perfectionism
Between social media and societal expectations, many people today feel like they are not measuring up. This may include struggles with body image, work performance, relationships, money, and more, which can lead to exhaustion and burn-out. The pressure to “be perfect” is a burden that is too great to bear. I work with my clients to develop radical self-acceptance and shame resilience. Imagine setting down the heavy weight of the expectations of others (and ourselves) and engaging in life from a place of authenticity and freedom. I love seeing people learn to focus their energy back into their own lives and dreams!
Attachment and Relationship Issues
I often hear statements such as “I don’t know why I keep making the same mistakes in my relationships!” Whether the issue is people-pleasing, difficulty with setting boundaries, self-sabotage, or emotional dysregulation, these traits are hard to overcome - even when people are completely aware that they are happening!
We repeat what we don’t repair.
Our attachment patterns begin early….at birth, actually. The emotional bond between baby/child and caregivers becomes the emotional roadmap that a person carries with them into their adult relationships. This roadmap will inevitably be imperfect - simply because no attachment is perfect! We’re not parent-bashing here - most caregivers did the best they could. In fact, they often repeat the same patterns they experienced or witnessed when they were growing up. These patterns get handed down from generation to generation until someone begins to question whether there might be another way of relating to one another. This is where the healing begins.