01 — Trauma

When people think of trauma, the “Big T” traumas usually come to mind, such as what a veteran might experience or someone who’s been assaulted or abused. However, trauma is not only about the event that someone has experienced but also how they experienced it. Because of this, trauma can also include what hasn’t happened. Emotional neglect, complicated relationships with family, or even not getting a big job you were excited about all can be traumatic events. When working with individuals, I also take into consideration the impact of intergenerational trauma, oppressive or traumatic events that are experienced by ancestors or any family member that are trickled down to younger generations. 

Trauma can result in symptoms such as anxiety, shame, dissociation, people-pleasing behaviors, self-blame, and issues with trust. I am experienced in working with trauma through traditional talk therapy as well as EMDR therapy.

02 — Anxiety

Walking through life can sometimes be a stressful experience. Anxiety can affect our bodies with an increased heart rate, stomach aches, fidgeting, hyperventilation; as well as our mind, like racing thoughts, excessive worry, and increased fear. Whether because of an increased workload, stress within a relationship, worrying about finances, or even a continuing struggle with the current state of the world, anxiety can often be a warning sign that something may be wrong or that a past trauma is resurfacing. Together, we can explore this anxiety and approach it with understanding and compassion.

03 — EMDR

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is an evidence based treatment modality for dealing with trauma that helps individuals process the experience without needing to delve into specifics that might be required in typical talk therapy. It is often used for PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other stressful experiences. Trauma is oftentimes intensified due to negative beliefs internalized about the self. For example, “it’s all my fault” is often internalized by survivors of sexual trauma. Negative beliefs like this can diminish self-worth, self-compassion, and trust. EMDR can help you move through these negative beliefs in the same way that you can process things while in REM sleep. EMDR replicates the bilateral eye movements that occur during sleep when eyes move from the left to right sides of the brain. Using this technique, you may be able to unstick some of those negative beliefs you have been holding onto.

More information can also be found here: https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/

If you are specifically interested in EMDR as a primary source of therapy, please know that it can be an intensive form of therapy and I work with clients to gain a baseline prior to jumping into EMDR processing.

04 — Gender-Affirming Care

Working with people outside of the gender binary is a passion of mine. Whether you are beginning to wonder where on the gender spectrum you feel most comfortable, are looking for support while trying out names or identities, preparing for gender-affirming surgery, or are simply a trans/enby human looking for general therapy services, I would be honored to work with you on your goals. For individuals looking to have gender-affirming surgeries, I also provide no-cost gender-affirming letters at request.

05 — Decolonized Framework

While therapist training has adapted in the last few years, much of the training is still rooted in a white-supremacy framework. Though I am a person of color, that does not mean I understand the life of all people of color who walk into my life. Because of this, I practice cultural humility and remain curious about how your culture has dictated or impacted your actions and made you who you are today. I take into account the many ways that an individual can be oppressed within our society, and how that can affect mental health. This also means that I do not assign diagnoses to my clients, unless at your request, as it is rooted in a westernized culture of what it means to be outside the “norm.” I come into the therapeutic space curious about who you are and what has brought you here and I not only accept your cultural history, but celebrate it.