About Therapy
Does your life feel impossible right now?
Because that’s often how it feels when you’re living with trauma, anxiety, or depression.
Depending on the circumstances bringing clients into therapy, they may have flashbacks to a specific event or from circumstances that have occurred their entire lives.
Clients who have been hurt somehow or have seen pain come to others may be affected. Negative circumstances greatly impact individuals, especially if one has been forced to live through repeated abuse over the years.
Some clients might have difficulty going places, which never gave them trouble before. Their self-esteem may be affected because they see others doing things they can either no longer do or have never been able to do.
Everyone reacts differently to different events, but no one should feel as though they are impossibly stuck where they are.
You might be nervous or even afraid as you start therapy…
Discussing the most difficult moments in your life is not easy. The fear of being made to relive a story time and time again is probably one of the most terrifying prospects you could imagine.
I can relate.
When I began therapy years ago, I didn’t want to say anything. I sat there because not only was what I had to discuss deeply painful, but also I felt the person in front of me was a stranger. I buried some of the pain so deep, I literally couldn’t describe what happened, only how I felt.
I couldn’t imagine telling this person about my deepest pain because the fear of it was so intense.
But there’s no need for fear. I’m here for you.
Working with someone who understands what you’re going through makes it a lot easier to work through your concerns.
I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised what’s in store for you…
I have a calm, welcoming demeanor, which is immensely important for any individual who has experienced difficulties in life. Particularly for those who have experienced traumatic events or are experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression.
You’ll also find that I’ll hold zero judgment over you. I have no expectations other than that you show up and take part.
You deserve to work with someone who listens and gently guides. You are the most important person in that room, and my primary goal is to see you evolve into the person you want to be.
Our relationship will be the most important part of your therapy.
Most people have heard of one form of therapy or another. They may have heard of them from a friend or may have seen something in a movie. I use a form of therapy (EMDR) that specifically caters to treating trauma and its accompanying symptoms. Even though this therapy is widely used and evidence-based, it means nothing if the client is uncomfortable with the therapist.
We must trust each other. I’ll be walking with you through the most difficult parts of your life, and it’s vital you know you can depend on me to keep the space safe.
Keeping the space safe means taking the time to build a rapport. That means getting to know you as much as you’ll allow. I’ll ask you questions about your life and your experiences. I even ask you about your week. It’s not just small talk. It’s letting you know that you and your life genuinely matter to me.
Keeping the space safe also means not rushing or forcing you into a topic or discussion. I commit, always, to only move at the pace of the client. That pace is different for everyone. Some clients want to dive into the deep end and begin with the most difficult things first. Others may only want to start by sticking their big toe into the water. Some want to open up about everything right away. Others, like myself, may take months to open up.
Every client moves at their own pace, and that’s okay. You may see progress more slowly or quickly than others, and that’s okay, too. No matter what, I am here for you.
Working through your difficulties…
I’m talking about ALL your difficulties – even the ones that make you feel you’ll never be “normal.”
Some clients enter therapy because they have experienced a specific situation, which has left them unable to feel as they had before. They constantly feel on edge as though something may happen again. They may suffer from nightmares or thoughts and body sensations that seem to come out of nowhere. They may experience panic attacks while doing something as simple and routine as shopping or driving.
Some enter therapy because they have experienced a circumstance or a set of circumstances which have left them feeling a sense of unease on a level they can’t explain. All they know is something feels off. They force themselves to conform to a set of standards out of fear of what may happen if they do not. Thoughts of their childhood may bring them great distress without an obvious reason why.
Over the years, I’ve learned to proceed slowly and cautiously. I’ve found this to be the preference of most of my clients. However, if you’d like to dive immediately into the deep end, we can certainly do that.
No matter how we proceed, I’ll make sure that you have adequate coping skills for processing what you’re going through.
Ultimately, our goal is to help you become a fully functional person in the modern world.
About Me
I’ve been working with people for as long as I can remember.
When I was 12, I started taking part in youth groups. I remember so many people confiding in me. I was that person people would turn and talk to as a trusted shoulder.
I spent many years as a member and moved on to a leadership role when I was 18. Even at that young age, many people, youth and adults, turned to me as a person who would listen and be supportive.
This part of my personality was even on display in my retail position, which sometimes got me into trouble (something about sitting with clients talking about their lives for hours at a time was frowned upon by upper management!).
This work is a part of my bones!
It brings me great joy to make sure people feel heard, understood, and supported – especially during times of great struggle.
Throughout my life, my grandmother has inspired me the most. She has always been a listener and someone in whom many confide. I believe she passed that trait down to me. People have told me since I was a young child that I’m easy to talk to. I’ve always been told my warm, welcoming presence and calm voice make it easy for people to trust me. Besides that, I have a sincere desire to see people’s lives change in ways they never thought possible. I believe that’s possible because it’s happened to me and so many others.
Here’s a quote that helps me every day…
It’s from Cicero, statesman, and scholar in Ancient Rome: “While there’s life, there’s hope.”
There have been times in my life when I couldn’t imagine things getting better. When I was outed as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, the reaction from those closest to me was disgust and horror. It was a time that was painful beyond anything I had encountered to that point. I felt so alone, and I had so few people to whom I could turn.
That feeling of loneliness continued into my adulthood, where my constant companion became alcohol. Looking for a friend at the bottom of a bottle became my only way of life. At one point, everything I did to add value to my life came crashing down around me. I attempted to complete suicide two times in early 2014. Behaviors from which I began having nightmares so intense I woke up drenched in sweat. There have even been nights when I was afraid to return to bed. Times when the depression I felt was so intense and powerful I could hardly move.
At many points, my thoughts remained so dark I thought the world would be better off without me. On 10-4-2015, I decided I was in so much pain that I would pursue sobriety. I can say as someone sober and firmly on the other side of those thoughts that I’m grateful to be alive.
As long as we draw breath, I believe there’s hope for a better tomorrow.
When I’m not doing therapy…
I’m doing volunteer work. I had the pleasure of volunteering with first responders. When they have a need, they call my organization. I’m dispatched to help a person or family in distress.
I’m also beginning the journey of becoming a clinical supervisor for a newly forming agency here in Las Vegas, which is a thrilling opportunity.
I may also engage in many other hobbies. I might be by myself, with family, a group, or my partner and the dog. I love hiking and rock climbing. Something about climbing hundreds of feet up a mountain is incredibly exhilarating. At the top, it’s just you and the beauty of nature.
My partner and I are big on new experiences and always looking for new and exciting ways to enjoy life together.
If I can give you any reassurance, it is this…
I have been professionally trained not to make your life worse.
I freely acknowledge working through trauma is hard. Training to do it is hard so imagine being on the other side. What I can promise you is that the work is worth it. I can tell you that on the other side of pain is gratitude, and hope is the bridge that connects them. You’ve experienced the pain of ongoing depression, crippling anxiety, and even life-stopping trauma.
I encourage you to reach out. I offer a free 20-minute consultation to help you determine if we are a good fit to work together. I’ll ask you minimal questions about you and what has caused you to call. Don’t worry – this is not an invasive process. It’s essential for you to get a feel for my energy and for me to determine if my training is sufficient for your circumstance. For example, I’m not yet trained to work with kids or to offer parent training.
I hope that you will allow me to work with you to cross that bridge. Let’s work together to find a healthier, happier you. Call me today: (215) 874-7162.