My background as a research scientist greatly informs how I support my clients. I focus on applying treatment practices that have demonstrated success in addressing your specific symptoms. I often talk about and share scientific research in sessions, and I'm always checking to make sure I'm up-to-date on what's happening in the field. I create treatment plans for my clients that I believe have the highest chance of success for them based on the best science available.
Often, changing how we act is the quickest way to change how we think and feel. The treatment approaches I use tend to focus on reducing avoidance, increasing meaningful activities, and altering unhelpful behavior patterns. In sessions, I often spend time teaching behavioral concepts and practicing concrete skills with my clients. The real work of therapy extends beyond our sessions, involving weekly homework assignments that help you practice new skills in real-life situations. This does not mean we don't talk about feelings! Talking about, validating, and changing our relationship with our emotions is still central to the way I implement behavioral therapies.
Unhealthy behaviors don't happen in a vacuum, and neither does change. With young people, family can play a big role. With individuals in the perinatal period, partners and support systems are similarly important. That's why I often like to involve caregivers and/or partners in therapy and always work toward improving communication between family members. I seek to understand the bigger picture leading to difficulties in the lives of my clients, and to be creative about how to intervene on those bigger systems!
The type of therapy I do is not forever. I help my clients define goals and we keep an eye on progress, adjusting the treatment as necessary. My aim is to guide you toward a life filled with meaningful activities, where you feel confident taking on whatever life throws at you - even without me! I check in regularly with my clients to make sure we are aligned and headed in the right direction.
Your (and your family's) unique identity will undoubtedly have an impact on the therapy that we do. I recognize that many of the tools of modern psychology were developed primarily using research on white, affluent populations, and research is only now beginning to uncover how these therapies work for people outside the dominant culture. Many treatment approaches have built-in assumptions or goals that don't reflect every situation or may simply not feel 'right' for you. I make an effort to talk openly about these issues with my clients, to listen with curiosity and humility, and to actively adapt my approaches to honor their needs.