Approach

My approach to psychotherapy is inspired by the belief, as the quote above suggests, that we are all human and therefore have human ways of suffering and experiencing life. Because of this, I approach my work with an open attitude that wonders not what is wrong with you, but rather, what happened to you? My goal is to help you become aware of those unconscious patterns of thinking, feeling, and relating to others that define who you are so that you can better understand their impact on your present-day problems. In doing so, my hope is that you will gain both self-awareness and greater flexibility in your ways of seeing, and experiencing, everyday life.

I offer psychoanalytic or psychodynamic psychotherapy, which means that therapy with me involves us having conversations that will help you understand and appreciate yourself in a deeper, more meaningful way. We accomplish this by approaching what you discuss in therapy with curiosity, openness, and a willingness to reconsider what you thought you knew about yourself and how you show up in the world. From a contemporary psychoanalytic perspective, lifelong experiences with others, from early caregivers to present-day peers, friends, or lovers, have a defining and lasting impact on how we come to see ourselves, how we engage in life, and how we respond to life’s challenges.

I encourage people who work with me to say whatever is on their mind, as random as it might seem. Doing so allows room for thoughts, feelings, urges, and other material to come up that otherwise wouldn’t in everyday life. When we explore these together, you will gain greater self-awareness and an understanding of what these things can tell us about your current struggles. I recommend meeting once or twice per week at minimum so that you are able to get the most out of the therapeutic process.