My approach to therapy is strongly influenced by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, social constructionism, existential therapy, and liberation psychology.

Here’s a little of what that means for you:

The focus of our work together won’t just be on feeling better. Instead, we’ll focus on getting better at feeling, expanding your options for responding to the things you think, feel, and experience. We’ll explore the patterns and associations that aren’t working for you any more and build flexibility around those options, so you can make choices that move you towards your values. 

1. I don’t set the agenda–you do. I’m here as a skilled partner, but the intelligence of the work comes from you.

2. Much of our pain has origins in the challenges of the human experience. Sometimes the things we do to help us feel better actually make the situation worse and bring us away from the things that make our lives meaningful. We’ll focus on getting better at feeling, rather than just feeling better.

3. Some of the problems we’re facing in counseling come from the social forces we’re reckoning with - and the truths about the world we’ve been taught by these forces. We’ll raise our awareness when we notice this happening and explore alternatives. Some of our work may feel countercultural.

4. Therapy is a practice ground. We’ll play and experiment, trying on new ways of relating in a safe, supportive environment.

5. We often learn habits to survive the experiences we’ve encountered. Our bodies also learn these habits–so we’ll spend time focusing on the body as well as the mind.