“When we heal ourselves, we heal not just the past — we heal the future.”
- Dr. Gabor Maté
Areas of focus
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Depression & Anxiety
Depression and anxiety are experiences many of us face at different times in our lives, and it’s important to remember that these feelings don’t define who we truly are. Instead of seeing them as personal flaws, we can learn to view them as signals - messages from ourselves that deserve kindness and patience. This shift in perspective helps us create a more compassionate experience not only for ourselves but also for the people we care about.
Depression often brings persistent sadness and a loss of interest in things we once enjoyed, while anxiety tends to show up as overwhelming worry, nervousness, and even physical signs like a racing heart. These two often go hand in hand, affecting sleep, focus, and overall energy levels. The good news is that by noticing these signs early and reaching out for professional support, we can take meaningful steps toward feeling better and reclaiming a sense of balance in our lives.
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Relationships
Therapy provides a safe and supportive space to explore relationship concerns. Whether you’re an individual looking to break unhealthy patterns or a couple trying to find common ground, therapy can help by fostering open communication, empathy, and healthy coping skills. This process encourages partners to better understand each other and resolve conflicts, building trust, personal growth, and mutual respect - key ingredients for strong, healthy relationships.
Couples often face challenges such as communication breakdowns, trust issues, differing values or goals, and navigating major life transitions like marriage, parenthood, or career changes. Other common struggles include working through past traumas and balancing individual needs within the partnership. I work with a diverse range of relationships, including LGBTQ+ couples, and non-traditional family structures.
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Trauma
Many people experience trauma at some point in their lives, and its impact is deeply personal. For some, it feels like being constantly on edge or overwhelmed; for others, it may look like numbing out with drugs or alcohol, or shutting down just to get through the day. You might notice changes in sleep, sudden memories or flashbacks, or moments where you feel distant from yourself or others.
Trauma can affect the nervous system and shape how we think, feel, and relate to the world around us. Healing takes time, compassion, and a space where you feel safe, supported, and truly heard. In therapy, we move at your pace and honor your unique experience. There’s no right or wrong way to heal - and you don’t have to do it alone. With proper support and tools to help your mind and body feel grounded again, you can slowly rebuild a sense of safety, trust, and connection - both with yourself and with others.
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Navigating Adolescence
Adolescence is marked by a complex array of challenges that include navigating peer relationships, coping with bullying, managing academic pressure, and dealing with the often overwhelming influence of social media. Teens must learn to establish their identity while balancing the expectations of family, school, and friendships. Bullying can erode self-esteem, social media may contribute to anxiety or unrealistic comparisons, and academic demands can create significant stress. Therapy provides a safe space for teens to explore these issues, develop coping strategies, and build resilience. Through therapeutic support, adolescents can cultivate emotional regulation, improve communication skills, and foster a healthy sense of self, enabling them to thrive despite the fast-paced and often unpredictable nature of today’s world.
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Addiction & Substance Misuse
Addiction and compulsive behaviors often develop as ways to manage overwhelming emotions, cope with stress, or numb the impact of past trauma. While substance misuse is one common form, addiction can also take the shape of behaviors such as gambling, shopping, overeating, gaming, or excessive screen time. These coping strategies may provide temporary relief but can create patterns that interfere with relationships, health, and overall well-being. Recognizing addictive behaviors as rooted in trauma allows therapy to address both the behaviors and the underlying emotional wounds simultaneously. Through compassionate, individualized support, clients can develop healthier coping skills, process difficult experiences, and gradually reduce reliance on substances or compulsive behaviors.
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Maternal Wellness
Maternal stress and mental load often stem from the constant demands of caregiving, managing household responsibilities, and navigating the emotional complexities of motherhood. For many, these pressures are intensified by unresolved trauma or birth-related experiences, which may involve physical or emotional pain, a loss of control, or even a sense of losing touch with your own identity. These challenges can contribute to anxiety, depression, exhaustion, or feelings of helplessness. Therapy provides a safe, supportive space to process these experiences, strengthen coping skills, and restore emotional balance - helping you feel more grounded, supported, and connected to yourself.
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Parenting & Caregiver Support
Parenting can bring immense joy, but it also comes with moments of uncertainty, pressure, and self-doubt. Balancing your own needs with your child’s, managing big emotions, and navigating changing identities can feel overwhelming. In therapy, we focus on your values and goals as a parent, build tools for emotional regulation and communication, and support confident, compassionate parenting - without striving for perfection. With guidance and space to be heard, you can feel empowered, resilient, and more present, nurturing both your child and yourself while reclaiming a sense of who you are beyond motherhood.
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Gender-Affirming Care
Navigating sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression is a deeply personal journey that often involves exploring and understanding one’s authentic self in relation to societal expectations and cultural norms. It requires self-reflection, patience, and access to supportive environments where individuals feel safe to express their identities without fear of judgment or discrimination. This process can be fluid and evolve over time, highlighting the importance of flexibility and compassion both from oneself and from others. Professional guidance, such as therapy, can provide valuable support in addressing challenges related to identity, promoting self-acceptance, and fostering healthy relationships.