My Approach

Early connections impact us emotionally.

You probably wonder what is going on with you and why you feel stuck. I will provide a brief explanation here.

What you are experiencing is emotional pain. You are NOT defective. The experience of emotional distress is a universal one, and like physical pain, emotional pain can be episodic or chronic.

How we grew up and with whom significantly affects our ability to tolerate and manage this pain. Growing up with the “best” parents in a great household can help the outcome, but it doesn’t shield us from disappointment and pain.

At birth, we form an emotional connection (or attachment) with our primary caregiver (usually our mother). Like in every relationship, we respond to each other’s communication style. When this relationship is stressful and doesn’t meet our needs, it affects our ability to connect to others, regulate our emotions, and keep ourselves safe. When this connection is loving, secure, and supportive, we fare better in our ability to relate to others.

Similarly, when we grow up in a supportive family system, we develop healthy ways of coping and managing distress. Alternatively, growing up in a family that invalidates, controls, or is unresponsive compromises our ability to adjust to stressors and experiences – making us more susceptible to adverse childhood experiences, such as abuse and trauma.

Therapy helps overcome challenging emotional experiences.

Considering the above contexts will assist us in evaluating your needs in therapy and shed light on the experiences that you had and their relationship to your current emotional experience. We will focus on building a solid therapeutic relationship and utilize interventions that build trust and improve relationships.

I will primarily utilize an evidence-based treatment approach called Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT.) This approach focuses on the relationship between thought patterns, emotional experiences, and behavior. CBT examines the story we tell ourselves about ourselves, others, and the world around us. Those stories affect how we respond to different experiences and live our lives.

Extensive research has proven CBT effective at addressing many mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, phobias, trauma, etc.

Let’s find a way for you to move forward.

In therapy, we will examine your core beliefs and how they contribute to your current situation. We will help you challenge maladaptive thought patterns to develop a more desirable emotional response and behavior. Additionally, we will utilize techniques to assist you in identifying and implementing new coping skills and improve your ability to problem solve and monitor your progress.

You deserve to live free from pain and suffering. Contact me today!