My approach to therapy
People usually seek out therapy with long-held hurts and symptoms that constrict their worlds. We may suffer from a sense that our spark has been diminished by traumatic experiences or the passage of time. We may feel stuck, cornered by the volatility of difficult relationships, or exhausted by the pressures of living in a culture that is relentlessly extractive.
I believe that psychotherapy should provide a counterpoint to the burden of constant coping. I aim to offer a space to explore, experience, feel deeply, and find direction for living differently.
I work within a psychodynamic paradigm which takes seriously that the past is alive in the present, that our prior experiences shape our current lives in ways that are often unconscious to us, and that increased insight about our histories and internal conflicts can help us reconnect to disowned parts of ourselves and move forward in freer and more integrated ways.
My practice style is conversational and direct, with space for laughter and speculation. I believe that effective psychotherapy is a blend of support and challenge. I aim for sessions to be more than a time to “vent,” receive saccharine affirmation, or be lectured on “tools” or directives. Ideally, therapy facilitates a relationship where you experience deep understanding and appreciation, such that you feel safe enough to confront whatever is in the way of your own growth and thriving.