MY MODALITIES
INTERNAL FAMILY SYSTEMS
Internal Family Systems (IFS) was started by Dr. Richard C. Schwartz, who initially worked with families and clients primarily with eating disorders. Through this work, he discovered that his clients were made of a multitude of sub-personalities or parts. He believed, as do I, that we have our own system inside made up of our own family of ourselves. At our core, we have a capital S “Self,” the curious, calm, and wise part of us, that through life experience and trauma often become obscured. Think of a critical part, judging our behaviors or beating ourselves up for what we have done. We work to get to know this judger, how they developed, what job they serve in the system, and how to support them more. There are “no bad parts,” as Dr. Schwartz says, although it may feel that way. The idea is to get to know as many parts as possible in our system to access our Self and lead a more integrated life. I am excited to work with you to get to know your parts, witness, and gain more acceptance of yourself and others.
Trauma-informed is both a philosophy and a style of therapy. As a trauma-informed therapist, my mindset is seeing “what happened to the client” versus there being something wrong or needing to be fixed in a client. I attend to each client’s individual nervous system in terms of how to approach, educate, and collaborate on tools and ways to heal the layers of trauma that may have affected an individual’s system.
I believe our culture is traumatizing and that most of us may have acute or complex trauma from development, an incident, relationships, and more. Because of this, I approach all my clients with a trauma-informed way of relating. The language I use, the choices I provide, and the container I set all aim for creating safety and support. Finding out what each of those mean to clients is my priority, while building individual resources to build a sustainable and meaningful life.
Educating clients in a big part of the work I do as I believe it empowers individuals and heals trauma. Most of my trainings and readings for working with trauma come from The Relational Center, David Treleaven, Resmaa Menakem, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, The Trauma Resiliency Model, and The Recovery Model.
TRAUMA-INFORMED
DEPTH PSYCHOLOGY
Depth psychology looks at unconscious and underlying reasons for our feelings, thoughts, and actions. This approach was developed by Carl Jung in order to further build on Freud’s theories. Depth psychology explores how the collective affects an individual, and incorporates creativity, imagination, and soul work to therapy. I use depth psychology by offering creative tools and practices in the room (or zoom). I believe that our culture brings us far away from our soul and spirit, which is a factor that leads to symptoms of suffering. I aim to reconnect individuals to their souls in order to discover what lies underneath and yearns to be seen. What our society or an individual may see as a problem or issue, depth would see as a call to look inward and at the collective. Depth can involve dream work, active imagination, visualization, art therapy, and other tools that awaken and feed unconscious parts and motives.
SOMATIC THERAPY
Somatic therapy focuses on the connection between the mind and body, recognizing that our emotions and experiences are not only processed in our minds but also stored and held within our bodies. As a somatic therapist, I gently guide you to explore what is happening physically in your body, helping you tune into sensations, tensions, and movements that may be linked to past experiences or unresolved emotions.
The body has a unique wisdom—it can reveal patterns, memories, and emotional states that may not always be fully accessible through traditional talk therapy. By fostering awareness and presence in the body, somatic therapy allows you to better understand the connection between your emotional and physical well-being. This approach offers a deeper, more holistic understanding of yourself and can help release stored trauma or chronic patterns that might be affecting your life today.
Through this work, you can cultivate a sense of safety, healing, and empowerment, allowing your body to guide you toward greater balance and overall well-being.
RELATIONAL THERAPY
Relational therapy emphasizes the profound influence that our relationships and environment have on shaping our worldview and sense of self. As a relational therapist, my approach is rooted in authenticity, and I show up fully present with you in the therapeutic space. The core focus of our work together is on the relationship we share, providing you with an enriching experience of what it means to feel seen, heard, and supported by another in a compassionate, attuned way.
In this process, I will share my own experiences and feelings as they arise in relation to what you share, inviting a mutual exchange that deepens our connection. Like you, I am a relational being, and our interaction is not one-sided; it is a dynamic co-creation of the present moment. Through this shared process, we can explore the patterns and dynamics that emerge, not only within the therapy room but also those that show up in your relationships and life outside of it.
Our relationship can serve as a mirror, shedding light on how you engage with others, and whether these patterns support your well-being or may be contributing to challenges in your life. Together, we can safely explore these dynamics and, if you wish, identify ways to shift how you relate to yourself and to others in the world.