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In what ways have your personal experiences influenced your work with your clients?
There are two major events that have dramatically impacted my work with clients. The first is that I had a near-death experience when I was 21. I was backpacking Cambodia by myself and I was in a fatal bus accident. A woman my same age broke her neck and died immediately in the crash. Several others died as well. From that moment on, I strive to never take life for granted and this experience shifted my focus on what truly matters which to me means: Living a life of service and living life to the fullest. I work with clients through this lens of Carpe Diem and creating a life that is meaningful and focused on what truly matters at the end of the day. We don't know how long we will be here. The second major life event that influenced my work with clients was becoming a mother in 2017. I have experienced anxiety throughout my life but during the postpartum period I experienced intrusive thoughts and I severely lacked the support I needed. Through receiving support and help, I was able to move through that stressful and challenging period and have a much different postpartum experience with my second child in 2021. This difference in experiences inspired me to help others have a better perinatal experience.
What would be important for someone to know about working with you?
I am on the border between introverted and extroverted so I have compassion for both sides of the equation. My introverted side requires a lot of rest, solitude, and silence. With children, I rarely receive that! I have always been naturally empathetic and I would consider myself a highly sensitive person. The world misunderstands highly sensitive people and it has been a struggle to be a human in a largely insensitive world. I have had my own struggles and I see them as the curriculum and enrichment I needed to grow into a competent and compassionate therapist. I have traveled around the world and I believe strongly in human rights and equality. I love working with people from all walks of life including different political beliefs, races/ethnicities, immigration statuses, sexual orientation, gender... I practice cultural humility and I strive to learn as much as I can.
What is your style/approach to therapy?
My style has evolved over the years but I would say that it is a little bit of everything with a solution focus. I consider myself a philosopher at heart and I love Jungian and psychodynamic psychotherapy and you will find light sprinkles of those orientations in my work. I mostly see myself as being a positive, supportive presence to help you increase your self-awareness so that you can remove the barriers that prevent you from living the life you want.