Specialties

My areas of specialization include: LIFE TRANSITIONS, IDENTITY STRUGGLES, ANXIETY TREATMENT, DEPRESSION TREATMENT, BIPOLAR TREATMENT, TRAUMA TREATMENT, & ADDICTION

Identity Struggles and Major Life Changes

People tend to experience identity struggles at various points in life, particularly at points of great change and transition. I specialize in working with numerous types of identity struggles and major life changes including:

• Adjustment Disorders
• Starting and ending relationships, separation, marriage, divorce
• Building and ending interpersonal relationships (family, friends, intimate)
• Family conflicts
• Lost of a support pet
• Decision making
• Sexuality
• Gender Identity
• Life stage changes
• Multicultural and diversity issues
• Career changes, new job, retirement
• School and educational challenges
• Chronic illness diagnosis in self or loved one(s)

Anxiety

Anxiety is a persistent feeling of worry, fear, or unease. I specialize in treating the anxiety disorders and symptoms below.

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Social Anxiety Disorder
• High-performance anxiety
• Perfectionism
• Anxiety that always seems to be present
• Excessive overthinking
• Avoidance

Mood Disorders

Mood disorders are a group of mental health conditions characterized by significant disturbances in mood, ranging from extreme sadness and hopelessness to periods of unusually elevated mood or irritability. I specialize in working with the disorders and symptoms below.

• Major Depressive Disorder
• Bipolar I
• Bipolar II
• Isolation
• Managing the highs and lows
• Managing the cycling of moods
• Identifying and addressing mania
• Lack of interest in enjoying life
• Cycles of negative self-talk and judgement
• Persistent passive suicidality “life would be better if I wasn’t here”

Trauma

Trauma is a psychological response to an overwhelmingly distressing event or series of events, often resulting in emotional struggles. I specialize in treating the types of trauma listed.

• Trauma treatment for PTSD
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Acute Distress Disorder
• Burnout – extreme stress relating to any dimension of life
• Emotional trauma
• Developmental (childhood) trauma
• Relational trauma
• Medical trauma: medical diagnosis in self or loved one, living with chronic pain or illness, birth injury, women’s issues 
• Workplace trauma: stress from role, caregiving occupation stress, loss of job, toxic culture, etc etc
• Parenting after trauma

Self-Esteem

Self-esteem issues involve a persistent lack of confidence and a negative perception of one’s own worth or abilities. I specialize in treating the identified issues listed. 

• Low self-confidence
• Negative beliefs about self
• Negative thoughts about self
• Inability to achieve 
• Body image issues

Addiction

Addiction is a condition characterized by the compulsive engagement in a behavior or the use of a substance despite harmful consequences. Below are a list of Addictions I work with. 

• Alcohol 
• Substances (opiates, stimulants, cannabis, legal, and illicit substances)
• Self-harm
• Behavioral (shopping, intimacy/sex, and work)

Coping Skill Building

As a Dialectical Behavioral Therapist, I value teaching individuals how to effectively cope with struggles on their own – I want to make you, your own therapist! I assist clients with developing more effective and healthier coping skills that are ultimately aligned with their values. Areas of focus for skill building include:

• Emotion Regulation Coping Skills
• Communication Skills
• Interpersonal/Relationship Skills
• Mindfulness Coping Skills
• Distress Tolerance Skills