Counseling for Young Adults & Adults
My work focuses on three main areas: trauma, family of origin work, and identifying negative core beliefs that contribute to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. By exploring these areas, we can come to a better understanding of ourselves and work toward healing and growth.
Trauma Therapy
“Trauma is a deeply distressing or overwhelming experience that can have a significant and lasting impact on a person’s emotional, psychological, and physical well-being. Trauma is a subjective experience, and what is considered traumatic for one person may not be for another. There is no single definition of trauma, but it is generally defined as an event that overwhelms a person’s coping mechanisms and causes significant distress. Trauma can be experienced at any age, from childhood to adulthood. It is important to note that not everyone who experiences a traumatic event will develop PTSD or other mental health problems. However, even mild traumatic experiences can have an impact on a person’s life.”
Trauma therapy can help individuals process traumatic events, develop healthy coping strategies, and recognize triggers while gaining insight into how to manage them. EMDR is central to my work with clients who have experienced a single traumatic event or have had exposure to multiple traumatic events. Trauma can include experiences such as early childhood trauma; sexual, physical, or verbal abuse; intimate partner violence; bullying; accidents or natural disasters; or traumatic grief.
Family of Origin Work
“So much of our beauty and brokenness — so much of what makes us who we are today — is tied to our family of origin. The ways in which we act, react, and interact with others are directly tied to our childhood origin stories and the hurt that we all inevitably experienced – no matter how perfect (or imperfect) our families were.”
The term "family of origin" refers to the caregivers or guardians an individual had during their upbringing, whether they are biological, adoptive, foster, or any other form of caregiving relationship. The environment we grow up in shapes our earliest experiences and teaches us whether we feel valued, special, or that we matter to someone—or not. Through these experiences, we form our understanding of self-worth and connection. These lessons play a significant role in shaping our relationship with shame, guilt, and ultimately, with ourselves. In working together, we can unpack the earliest messages we received and break down old narratives we continue to perpetuate, but that don't actually serve us or fit us anymore. In doing so, we can learn to live in ways that support our wellbeing individually and relationally.
Negative Core Belief Work
“When we hold negative core beliefs about ourselves, others, or the world around us, they become like invisible filters through which we interpret our experiences.”
Negative core beliefs deeply influence our mental health by shaping how we view ourselves, others, and the world. These beliefs often stem from early experiences and can create a distorted lens through which we interpret everything. For example, if someone has a core belief that they are "not good enough" or "unworthy," they may constantly feel inadequate, leading to anxiety, depression, or a fear of failure. Over time, they can prevent us from forming healthy relationships or pursuing opportunities, as we’re caught in a cycle of self-doubt and fear. By addressing and challenging these negative core beliefs, therapy can help shift these patterns, allowing for more self-compassion and healthier ways of thinking and being.
I am an EMDR-trained therapist and use EMDR as my main therapeutic modality. EMDR is an evidenced-based, highly effective therapy which offers healing without re-traumatization for a wide range of therapeutic issues. It is the most thoroughly researched method used in the treatment of trauma. EMDR helps to reduce the intensity of traumatic memories as well as the associated negative core beliefs and distressing emotions. It helps individuals reprocess past experiences and rewires the brain by strengthening more adaptive and helpful beliefs. In addition to EMDR, I also integrate other evidence-based therapeutic modalities into my work including ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy).
I might be a good fit if:
You put everyone else before yourself and find that your needs are consistently unmet
You have memories you can’t seem to get out of your head that cause shame, disgust, or fear
You have a hard time finding things you like about yourself
You hold yourself to a higher standard than you will ever be able to meet or than you would ever expect of others
You question what others see in you or often feel unworthy of good things
You have more “down” days than “good” days
You find yourself worrying about things that seem to not bother others
You have a hard time trusting yourself or anyone else
You often don’t feel safe
Your relationships are unsatisfying or you feel undeserving of love
You have experienced one or more traumatic events which continue to cause distress
You grew up in a home where you experienced verbal, physical, sexual, or emotional abuse