That depends what you’re looking to get out of therapy. Generally speaking, therapy is an opportunity to explore places that you are feeling stuck, and examining feelings of depression, anxiety, shame, low self-esteem, etc. Therapy is a microcosm of how we are outside of therapy. Having a therapist attend fully to your experience can reflect patterns, explore feelings, and gently challenge old beliefs so that you can connect more fully to your authentic expression in the world.

I have a Master’s in Integral Counseling Psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies. I have a Bachelor’s in English with a minor in creative writing from Virginia Commonwealth University. I also have over a decade of personal study exploring trauma and the nervous system. I completed my training practicum at Church Street Integral Counseling Center, the first gestalt therapy training clinic in the country. I see myself as a continual learner, and continue to deepen my understanding of how best to be with those on a healing journey.

It’s hard to say exactly how long therapy will take, because it’s dependent on what your therapeutic goals are. I recommend imagining what you would like your life to look like, and then begin to think about what is getting in the way of that vision. Throughout our work we will continually revisit your therapeutic goals to make sure that you’re making good progress.

Generally sessions are 50 minutes long, once a week. With very rare exceptions my expectation is that we will meet at least once a week for the first 3 months of therapy.

Working with me you can expect respect, trust, and care. While it is hard to predict exactly how our work will look (therapy is a collaborative and co-created process after all) I endeavor to make sure my clients feel safe, supported, and heard. I often use humor in session, and am not afraid to be both directive and experimental if I feel the therapy demands it. I am also happy to do nothing but listen and witness if that feels most appropriate. As Lao Tzu says “The Master doesn't seek fulfillment.. Not seeking, not expecting, she is present, and can welcome all things!”

Therapy can stir up painful feelings or emotions that can be uncomfortable. As a trauma-informed clinician, it is my responsibility to make sure that we stay as often as possible within your window of tolerance, and proceed safely. That said, a good metaphor I’ve heard is that therapy can be like pouring clear water into a glass with gunk on the bottom. In the beginning, that muck being brought to the surface can be uncomfortable, scary, or even painful! But that is part of the process of healing, and I am here to be with you throughout the process.

What are your therapeutic goals? If you are anxious, then therapy is working if you find yourself feeling less anxious in day to day life. Understanding what you’re hoping to get out of therapy is one of the best ways to be able to track whether or not you are progressing in therapy. If you feel you aren’t progressing I want to hear about it! That can be really helpful in identifying or changing the way we are working.

My sessions are currently $180 for individuals. I am not currently in-network with any insurance panels, but am happy to provide a superbill for reimbursement. I do have a limited number of sliding scale spaces available on a first come first serve basis.

I work predominantly through a lens of gestalt therapy. The way this shows up in session is focusing on awareness, and may include parts work, resourcing exercises, reflecting, experimentation, and focusing on dynamics from your childhood and how they are impacting you in the present moment. I tend to be creative in my interventions, I am not afraid to be directive, and of course I am deeply interested in what you are wanting and needing in your therapeutic journey! I also have a natural interest in finding ways to invite play, whether that is through humor or silliness, while also balancing that with the heaviness that so many of us experience.

Gestalt therapy embodies a humanistic and existential approach, urging clients to engage fully with their present experiences. Instead of merely discussing emotions, the therapy encourages direct immersion in them. This client-centered method respects you as the ultimate authority on your own life, refraining from imposing explanations or interpretations. Rather than attempting to mend perceived flaws, the therapy promotes self-acceptance as a catalyst for transformation. Central to Gestalt therapy is the cultivation of awareness—of thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, and more—which serves as the cornerstone of personal exploration and growth.