Individual Counseling

My Areas of Interest/Specialty:

• anxiety disorders 
• trauma and trauma in close relationships
• terminal illness
• end of life issues
• miscarriage and birth trauma
• sexuality
• medical intervention/procedure trauma
• disordered eating and body image issues
• attachment and grief/loss issues
• spiritual and existential concerns
• relationship challenges 
• identity issues
• mindfulness practices 
• transitions
• individuation

Issues And Concerns That I Don't Work With 
There are certain life circumstances and mental health concerns for which I do not have a specialized skill set to provided the most effective treatment and therefore I do not take new clients who are experiencing or need the following:

• ​couples therapy
• family therapy
• treatment for anyone under the age of 18
• involved in an open Child Protection Case
• involved in a custody battle or anticipate one
• court ordered for therapy
• involved with any criminal/court issues
• treatment for substance use disorder as a primary diagnosis
• currently in imminent crisis with active suicidal thoughts 
• treatment for personality disorders

My Approach
I use a multifaceted orientation that is informed  by: 

• Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (my primary modality)
• An interpersonal process approach (a blend of interpersonal theory, object relations theory, and family systems theory developed by Edward Teyber)
• Attachment theory
• EMDR
• Internal Family Systems model

In general, this means that I believe people relate to others based on the patterns they have learned in their most significant relationship experiences - usually their relationship with their parents or primary caregiver. I also believe that these patterns get replicated in therapy so I will often use our relationship as a way to explore your interpersonal style and patterns.

The therapeutic techniques I use include (but are not limited to) or are informed by: 

• EFIT (Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy developed by Sue Johnson). I am certified in EFIT.
• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing developed by Francine Shapiro). I am an EMDRIA-certified EMDR therapist (www.emdria.org/page/21 for certification criteria)
• Interpersonal Process (Ed Teyber) (informed)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT developed by Stephen Hayes) (informed)
• Exposure and Response Prevention (informed)
• Internal Family Systems (informed)
• Self-compassion (Kristin Neff) (informed)
• Sand Tray (informed)

*Please note that my knowledge in EMDR comes from obtaining certification through EMDRIA, an extensive training experience. Other techniques noted as "informed" mean that I have pursued additional training through sanctioned continuing education but have not obtained certification in these areas.

Group Psychotherapy 
Have you ever found yourself acting inconsistent with the goals you have for your relationships? For example, you might want to have a deeper connection with someone but when the opportunity arises you find yourself feeling afraid and pulling back, almost as if you have no choice. Usually these reactions have developed over time beginning with our childhood relationships. 

Group psychotherapy is a very powerful type of counseling that can help you develop the kinds of connections you desire with others. It allows you to address these issues in a way that individual psychotherapy cannot. 

I currently run groups through Network, a group psychotherapy clinic established by my husband, Nathaniel Wade, PhD, as well as out of my office. To learn more about group counseling and how you can be a part of it just click on the link or send me an email.

I use Irvin Yalom's approach