Areas of focus

We all have intense and uncomfortable emotions at times, but some people experience uncomfortable emotions all the time! They can be more reactive, more intense, and have a slower return to baseline. This is called emotional dysregulation. Many of the clients I've worked with have been labeled as borderline.  Through using DBT as a treatment modality, individuals can learn how to regulate emotions and reduce their suffering. It is a combination of individual therapy and skills training including coaching as needed. The four areas of skills training are mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.

Trauma occurs when a person goes through a  terrifying events during it either felt like or they were in serious danger. After such an event, shock and denial are common. In the long term, they may experience unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained relationships and even physical symptoms like headaches or nausea. Some people have described feeling stuck, unable to move forward.  Trauma therapy can help you learn to identify and manage these symptoms and guide you through the process of acceptance and grieving which leads to  healing. 

 Depression, and anxiety are of the most common and uncomfortable emotions that we all experience at some point in our lives. When they start to hang around though, it becomes a mood. In order to regain emotional balance, the client will learn how to identify what they are feeling and how it impacts their thoughts and behavior. Our treatment plan will identify strategies tailored to your situation in order to restore balance in your moods. The goal is to  help you recover motivation, perspective, and joy that you once had. 

Most of my work with clients struggling with substance use involves assessing the severity of the issue and making appropriate referral either for intensive treatment, or to supplement the therapy. In order to benefit the most from our work the client has ideally had a period of sobriety and is willing to work on the root causes of addiction. I also provide support and psycho-education for family members who are struggling with maintaining boundaries with the client.

Couples counseling can be beneficial not only for couples with intense conflicts. It also benefits couples who are looking to strengthen their emotional connection, in all stages of their relationship. By having a safe space with a neutral third party, clients can learn how to hear each other and nurture their relationship while resolving conflict more effectively.