Who I help
- Adults living with anxiety or chronic vigilance
- People affected by trauma or difficult past experiences
- People who overthink, analyze, and still feel stuck
- People who understand intellectually, but still find themselves reacting
Knowing isn't the same as feeling
Sometimes you already know why you feel anxious, defensive, or shut down, but the explanation doesn't really help. Some part of you still preps for danger even though you rationally know it's not a problem.
This is normal when thoughts and the feelings are pulling in different directions. A person can tell themselves they are safe, they ought to be happy and calm, etc--but some kind of alarm bell is still going off in the back of the mind. Therapy can help clarify why that alarm bell is going off, and then we can recalibrate it.
What therapy with me is like
Think of your symptoms like an antivirus software installed a long time ago. Back then, it was REALLY good that you had this antivirus! (For example, a child in an alcoholic family who learned, "I had better not speak my mind or else I will get hit. Staying quiet will keep me safe!") Back then it protected you from all kinds of bad stuff. But nowadays that antivirus software is kind of outdated, and it might be better to uninstall it. Anxiety, avoidance, shutting down, or holding people at a distance usually developed for reasons that made sense at some point, even if those reasons aren't clear anymore. My job is to get curious alongside you about where your symptoms came from, and how we can help that part of you discover what it feels like to KNOW that it is TOTALLY safe to be alive.
Sometimes we'll simply have meaningful converstaions, but we aren't limited to that. Sometimes we'll explore metaphors, imagined scenarios, or even dreams! Anywhere that the symptoms show up in a powerful way. I'm comfortable working with both the logical parts and the creative parts of your inner world.
Ways I may be able to help
Trauma Therapy
Past experiences can continue shaping present reactions long after the danger that produced them has passed.
Anxiety Therapy
Anxiety can persist even when you know your fears are unlikely or understand where they come from.
Therapy for People Who Overthink
Overthinking can feel protective and exhausting at the same time.
When You Understand the Problem but Still Feel Stuck
A person can understand why a pattern developed while still feeling it automatically.
Therapy for Relationship Patterns and Trust
You can understand exactly why you keep people at a distance, or why closeness makes you anxious, and still find yourself doing it anyway.
Therapy for Shame, Self-Criticism, and Perfectionism
A harsh inner critic or a perfectionism that's never quite satisfied can feel like the only thing keeping you safe, respectable, or acceptable.
Insurance I accept
I am in-network with the following insurance providers. Visit the Fees and Insurance page for full payment details.
- Aetna
- Anthem
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Cigna
- Optum
- UnitedHealthcare