Hello

There are hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of theories, perspectives, and approaches to practicing therapy.  I, like most therapists, take an integrated approach.  This means I incorporate a wide variety of theories and perspectives into how I practice therapy.  Although not comprehensive, what follows is a list of labels that best describe how I practice as well as a very brief (and reductive) description of what they mean to me:

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Attachment-Oriented: Secure attachment is a core emotional need.  Insecure attachment tends to underlie most psychological conditions.​

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Schema/Cognitive-Behavioral: Our experience of reality is filtered through our unique constellation of deeply held core beliefs, and sometimes these beliefs can become distorted due to past experiences.  Of particular interest are core beliefs around our identity and relationships.  See https://schematherapy.com/id63.htm for more information.

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Compassion Based: Self-compassion is critical for emotional well being and can be intentionally cultivated.

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Existential: What constitutes a meaningful life?  What does it mean that we all die?  What does spirituality mean to me?  Grappling with the basic realities of human existence can be a springboard to profound healing and growth.  

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Systems theory: Individuals are deeply affected by the social systems they are embedded in at every level - family, friends, local community, nation, global civilization.  Understanding the interplay between the individual and these systems is critical.  Sometimes mental "disorders" are actually a normal and expected response to the social context an individual is embedded in.

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Trauma Informed: Trauma is when our nervous system is overwhelmed by a real or perceived event and fails to return to homeostasis.  This nervous system dysfunction can underlie a wide variety of disorders, and understanding how to restore normal functioning is critical for treatment.

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Humanistic: I have a deep faith in the capacity of individuals to heal and grow.

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