The paradox of change
I strongly believe that change is only possible if you fully accept what is happening right now.
Embracing the unknown
Psychotherapy is a step from the now into the unknown. For a moment, you forget what you thought you knew about yourself, life and the world, and see what emerges. The role of the therapist is that of a companion, standing beside you in this process of discovery.
As you discover things about yourself, the world makes more sense to you. Old wounds heal, psychic muscles are toned, and you start to forgive yourself and others. Or you choose not to forgive, and you come to accept that.
New possibilities
You start seeing what’s possible for you in the world of feelings and relationships. The client-therapist relationship allows for reparative emotional experiences and becomes a practice ground for other relationships–with people, yourself, life.
Freud suggested that one of the main criteria for mental health was the ability to love and to work. I do believe that a life in which both of those areas are fulfilling and satisfying is a life worth living. Psychotherapy aims to help you achieve meaning in these areas.
More specifically, the results can be resolving dysfunctional patterns, connecting more deeply with yourself and others, fine-tuning your purpose, improving communication, having a greater sense of ease, and increasing your self-esteem.
I have a special interest in working with people on the following themes:
Shame
Gender Identity
Childlessness
Single & childless
Perfectionism
Grief and loss
Suppressed anger / Rage
Loneliness / Isolation
Boundaries / Saying no
Non-monogamy / Polyamory
Feeling stuck
BDSM
Body image / Self-esteem / Aging
Intergenerational trauma
Empowerment / Overcoming Systematic Oppression / Feminism
Being bicultural or bilingual
Developing one’s voice / Standing up for oneself
Alcoholism in the family / Al-Anon / SLAA / CODA / Other 12-step
Inner child or younger version of self
Denial / Disavowal
Conditioning / Belief systems
Eating Disorders: Anorexia / Bulimia / Binge Eating Disorder (BED) / Avoidant-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
EMDR
I also offer EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing), an effective way of resolving trauma. I received my EMDR training from the Parnell Institute. In EMDR we use bilateral stimulation in order to reprocess traumatic memories and heal more fully from them. While EMDR can be extremely effective, I have found that you have to be ready for its effects, and sometimes it might take some regular talk therapy before EMDR is indicated. When appropriate, EMDR can help remove blocks that keep you from living a full life. As of early 2020 I am only offering virtual sessions, and I now use RemotEMDR, a video conferencing platform for online EMDR therapy.