Who I Help

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I'm a LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist who loves working with children and adolescents ages 6 and up, as well as adults (ages 18+). I love working with clients experiencing depression, anxiety disorders, gender identity and sexuality concerns, conflict, religious trauma, ADHD, mood disorders, grief & loss, relationship issues, and difficulties related to being part of the LGBTQIA+ community. I also provide relationship therapy services, and I am affirming of alternative relationship structures (i.e. ENM, polyamory). I have personal lived experiences as an atheist with a Christian and Muslim background, and coming out as gay in a non-accepting and pathologizing environment.

 

I aim to be someone who you can trust, makes you feel attended to and respected, and someone who can offer reliable knowledge toward collaborating on what progress looks like to you. I am easygoing and non-judgmental. Many people who begin the journey of therapy do not feel like they have anyone on their side, so I aim to be that person first and foremost. From there, I can provide informed support along your progress journey as we collaboratively work towards where you want to be,

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Anxiety

As someone with personal experience with anxiety, my goal is to make working with me as inviting and relaxing as possible. I most often apply anxiety-specific CBT concepts alongside Exposure Therapy principles when helping those who want to alleviate symptoms of anxiety. I have found this interventional repertoire to be effective at reducing both acute and chronic anxiety, while engendering increased self-efficacy and self-esteem to produce an anti-anxiety mindset.

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Conflict Analysis and Resolution

When your challenges can be alleviated through improved conflict skills, we can work together to help you gain a better understanding of the field of Conflict Analysis and Resolution and how such skills can produce improved outcomes both internally and interpersonally. Improved conflict skills help promote clear, objective, and sober thinking alongside evidence-based ways of improving likelihoods for affecting the external changes one wants to see. My professional training in Conflict Analysis and Resolution remains the most applicable training I've ever taken toward improving harmony in my own life, 20 years later!

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Depression

When working with folks struggling with depression, I generally like using CBT techniques to help you unlearn maladaptive messages you have received from both yourself and society at large. These messages can often be so loud that they get in the way of being able to live authentically, being able to thrive rather than simply survive, and establish and maintain healthy relationships with others--and ourselves. When this is the case, I work with clients to learn and practice thought patterns which are most likely to engender happiness. It can be a great complement to psychoanalytic work wherein you are better able to understand why you think how you do. This form of CBT can give you the tools to manually change your thought patterns toward producing more constructive attitudes.

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What Can You Expect?

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A healthy balance of sincere attention and unconditional positive regard, combined with strong knowledge of modalities and interventions. This allows me to provide both an inviting space where you can be free to think out loud without fear of censure or judgment, alongside an informational space where you can learn and apply strategic tactics for affecting the changes you wish to see in your life.

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I enjoy practicing Client Centered/Rogerian therapy as a general disposition toward supporting transformational change with those I work with. I highly value evidence-based modalities and interventions as they offer reliability in the often unreliable world of mental health. While I am drawn by both curiosity and experience to work on anxiety, conflict analysis and resolution, critical thinking skills, depression, and resolving ambivalence, I am excited to work with anyone seeking an informed party to support their journey toward living a life of harmony and well-being as their authentic selves. Additionally, I am registered for EMDR training to begin in June 2024, because I also believe strongly in the effectiveness of that modality.

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When we begin our work together, I like to start from a client-centered position of attentiveness and validation, which is so important in this work, and then move to a focus on psychoeducation, coping skills development, desensitization, and reframing.

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I have seen from both sides of the "couch" how psychotherapy can produce a significantly improved quality of life for individuals. As a big believer in the idea that life can and should be pleasant, I take pride in being able to use my skill set toward helping you live a life you enjoy and savor. Psychotherapy has saved my life, so I take my job personally, and I consider myself a bit of an evangelist for its positive transformational power.

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 When I'm not at Open Space CCW, you may also find me...

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Somewhere relaxing--I am a big believer in the concept of "la dolce di far niente," or "the sweetness of doing nothing". You can also find me at the gym working out, in the woods hiking, swimming, socializing with friends and family, dancing and eating at local ethnic events/festivals, and basically just experiencing what life has to offer, as one of my other favorite quotes is "la morte mi troverà vivo," or, "death will find me living".

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Call us, send us a message via our contact form below, or email us to get started.

724-777-1433

hello@openspaceccw.com