“Let go of who you think you’re supposed to be. Embrace who you are.” —Brene Brown
Approach
Empathy
Empathy is the ability to sense, recognize, and understand other people’s thoughts and feelings. It’s about being able to put yourself in another person’s shoes. I believe empathy is an innate skill that needs to be honed. I can confidently say that empathy is one of my strengths. I use it to build rapport, trust, and a sense of safety. It’s foremost during therapy that you feel seen, heard, and believed.
Validation
Your feelings are valid…ALL of them! Thoughts and behaviors are different from feelings and are not always useful. Feelings are always useful if you can identify them and nurture them. Discomfort and pain often come from buried feelings that are trying to surface. Therapy is a place to uncover and explore those feelings. Through consistent validation, I aim to create a welcoming space for your feelings to emerge and process.
Alliance
An alliance is a partnership, a joining together for a common purpose. In this case, the common purpose is your emotional well-being. Research studies have shown time and time again that the therapeutic modality is secondary to the therapeutic alliance. It’s the bond between the client and therapist that is most indicative of a positive treatment outcome. I believe that you are the expert of your own story. As a collaborator, I am here to help you understand it and shape it as you see fit.
Transformation
Transformation is about change, and change is hard. Most people begin seeing a therapist because things feel uncomfortable or painful. Perhaps negative thoughts have become pervasive and disruptive, or maybe life just feels overwhelming and unenjoyable. Whatever the issue, the craving is change- for things to be different. When making changes, it helps to have a partner in the process, an unconditional supporter, and a true collaborator. The right therapist can help you transform into the person you want to be.