What happens in a counseling session that draws on Trauma-Focused Therapy?
We start by building safety and steadiness. You decide how much to share and when, and we work on coping skills before and alongside talking about the past. If you need a specialized trauma treatment, I will help you find the right provider.
What is Trauma-Focused Therapy?
Trauma-focused therapy recognizes that painful or frightening experiences can continue to affect your body, emotions and relationships. It emphasizes safety, pacing and choice.
When should I reach out for help with divorce?
You do not have to wait for a crisis. Many people reach out when they first start wondering whether the marriage can be saved, and others after the paperwork is done. Both are good times to begin. If you are ever in immediate danger, call 911, and if you are in crisis, call or text […]
How can counseling help with divorce?
Divorce counseling gives you a steady place to think. Together we look at what has happened, what you want, and how to take the next step in a way you can live with. If you are still deciding, I help you and your partner understand each other and weigh your options. If the decision is […]
How do I know if I need counseling for divorce?
Some common signs include: you keep going back and forth about whether to stay or leave; conflict at home has become constant, or the two of you have grown distant; you are worried about how a separation will affect your children; you feel overwhelmed, angry, sad or numb, sometimes all in the same day; you […]
When should I reach out for help with anxiety?
You do not need to wait until anxiety becomes unmanageable. If worry is affecting your sleep, your work, your relationships or your health, it is a good time to talk with someone. If you are ever in immediate danger, call 911, and if you are in crisis, call or text 988.
How can counseling help with anxiety?
Anxiety is common and it is treatable. In counseling we start by understanding when and why your anxiety shows up, and what it is trying to protect you from. From there I help you build tools you can use right away, such as slowing your breathing, noticing and questioning anxious thoughts, and facing avoided situations […]
How do I know if I need counseling for anxiety?
Some common signs include: you worry about things much of the day and find it hard to switch off; your body is tense, your heart races or you struggle to sleep; you avoid situations because of what might go wrong; you feel on edge, irritable or overwhelmed by ordinary demands; worry about work, family or […]
When should I reach out for help with depression?
If low mood has lasted more than a couple of weeks, or is getting in the way of work, family or daily life, it is a good time to reach out. If you are ever in immediate danger, call 911, and if you are in crisis, call or text 988.
How can counseling help with depression?
Depression can make it hard to believe that things can change, so my first job is to listen and to understand what you are carrying. Together we look at what may be contributing, including loss, stress, relationship strain, life changes and long-held beliefs about yourself. We then work on small, realistic steps: reconnecting with people […]
How do I know if I need counseling for depression?
Some common signs include: you feel sad, empty or numb most days; things you used to enjoy no longer interest you; you are tired, sleeping too much or too little, or struggling to concentrate; you feel hopeless, worthless or like a burden to others; you are withdrawing from friends and family. If any of this […]
When should I reach out for help with grief and loss?
You can come at any point, whether the loss is days or years old. Many people reach out when the support of friends and family has faded but the pain has not. If you are ever in immediate danger, call 911, and if you are in crisis, call or text 988.
How can counseling help with grief and loss?
There is no right way to grieve, and I will not hurry you. Counseling offers a place to talk about the person or the life you lost, to say the things that are hard to say elsewhere, and to make sense of the feelings that come. We look at how grief is showing up for […]
How do I know if I need counseling for grief and loss?
Some common signs include: you miss someone so much that daily life feels hard to face; you feel numb, angry, guilty or find yourself replaying what happened; grief comes in waves and catches you off guard; you are grieving a loss that others do not seem to understand, such as a divorce, a move or […]
When should I reach out for help with life transitions?
You do not need to wait until you feel stuck. Many people come while a change is underway, and others when it has settled and they are still not sure how they feel.
How can counseling help with life transitions?
Even good changes can be stressful. We start by naming what is shifting and what it means to you, including what you are leaving behind as well as what is ahead. From there I help you sort out your values, weigh your options and take steps at a pace that feels manageable. We also look […]
How do I know if I need counseling for life transitions?
Some common signs include: you are adjusting to a move, a job change, retirement or an empty nest; a relationship or role you counted on has changed; you feel unsure about who you are or what comes next; you are making a big decision and cannot see the right answer; change you wanted still feels […]
When should I reach out for help with stress?
If stress is affecting your health, your sleep or your relationships, it is a good time to talk with someone, before it becomes burnout.
How can counseling help with stress?
We look at where the stress is coming from, what is within your control and what is not, and how you usually respond when the pressure rises. Together we build tools for calming your body, setting boundaries, managing your time and your expectations, and asking for help. If the stress is tied to a relationship […]
How do I know if I need counseling for stress?
Some common signs include: you feel tense, tired or overwhelmed most days; you have trouble sleeping or relaxing; you are short-tempered with people you love; headaches, stomach trouble or other physical symptoms keep showing up; you cannot remember the last time you felt at ease. If any of this sounds familiar, you do not have […]
When should I reach out for help with self-esteem?
Many people reach out after a loss, a hard relationship or a long stretch of feeling stuck. You are welcome whenever you are ready.
How can counseling help with self-esteem?
Low self-esteem usually grows out of experiences, messages and relationships over many years. We look at where your beliefs about yourself began and how they affect your choices and relationships today. Then we practice new ways of seeing yourself, speaking to yourself and setting boundaries with others. Change comes in small steps, and each one […]
How do I know if I need counseling for self-esteem?
Some common signs include: you criticize yourself far more harshly than you would a friend; you worry constantly about what others think of you; you have trouble saying no or asking for what you need; you downplay your strengths and accomplishments; you feel you have to earn your place in relationships. If any of this […]
When should I reach out for help with codependency?
If you are worn out from taking care of someone else, or realize you do not know what you want anymore, that is a good time to reach out.
How can counseling help with codependency?
Codependency often develops in families where caring for others was the way to stay safe or be loved. It is understandable, and it can change. In counseling we look at the patterns, build your sense of your own needs and feelings, and practice healthier boundaries. When the other person is struggling with addiction, I also […]
How do I know if I need counseling for codependency?
Some common signs include: you feel responsible for other people’s feelings, choices or problems; you find it very hard to set limits or say no; your mood depends on how someone else is doing; you stay in a hard relationship because leaving feels impossible; you are not sure what you want or need apart from […]
When should I reach out for help with coping skills?
You can begin any time you notice that you are coping in ways you do not feel good about, or that nothing seems to help.
How can counseling help with coping skills?
We start with what you already do when you are struggling, and what it costs you. Then we add skills that fit your life, such as calming your body, naming and sorting feelings, pausing before reacting and talking through problems. You practice between sessions and we adjust what is and is not working. The aim […]
How do I know if I need counseling for coping skills?
Some common signs include: strong emotions feel too big to manage; you shut down, snap or avoid when things get hard; what used to help you cope no longer works; you rely on food, alcohol, screens or work to get through the day; you want tools you can actually use in the moment. If any […]
When should I reach out for help with parenting?
Parents often wait until things feel out of control. You are welcome sooner, when you first sense that something is not working.
How can counseling help with parenting?
Because I work with couples and families, I look at parenting as part of the whole family. We talk about what is happening at home, how each of you sees it, and what would help. I offer practical ideas for communication, expectations and consequences, and I help parents get on the same page. I see […]
How do I know if I need counseling for parenting?
Some common signs include: conflict with your teen or child is wearing everyone down; you and your partner disagree about how to parent; you are adjusting to a divorce, a blended family or a big change at home; you worry about your child’s mood, behavior or choices; you feel guilty, exhausted or unsure you are […]
When should I reach out for help with mood disorders?
If your moods are affecting your daily life, it is a good time to reach out. If you are ever in immediate danger, call 911, and if you are in crisis, call or text 988.
How can counseling help with mood disorders?
Mood disorders have both physical and emotional sides, so counseling often works best alongside medical care. I do not diagnose or prescribe medication, and I encourage you to stay connected with your doctor or psychiatrist. In sessions we focus on understanding your patterns, noticing early warning signs, building routines that steady your mood, and strengthening […]
How do I know if I need counseling for mood disorders?
Some common signs include: your mood changes in ways that are hard to predict or control; you go through stretches of very low energy or very high energy; your moods strain your work and relationships; you have been told you may have a mood disorder; you want support while you are on or considering medication. […]
When should I reach out for help with behavioral issues?
Early is better, but it is rarely too late. If you are worried about a pattern at home, reach out. If you are ever in immediate danger, call 911, and if you are in crisis, call or text 988.
How can counseling help with behavioral issues?
Behavior is usually a signal. We look at what is going on for your teen and for the family, including stress, changes, communication and expectations. I meet with teens (13 and up) and with parents, together or separately depending on what helps. We work on clearer communication, consistent expectations and ways of repairing after conflict.
How do I know if I need counseling for behavioral issues?
Some common signs include: a teen is angry, defiant or withdrawing; arguments at home keep escalating; rules and consequences are not working; school, friends or substance use have become a concern; the whole family feels stuck in the same pattern. If any of this sounds familiar, you do not have to wait until things get […]
When should I reach out for help with chronic illness and pain?
You are welcome at any stage, whether you were recently diagnosed or have lived with a condition for years.
How can counseling help with chronic illness and pain?
Counseling does not replace medical care, and it cannot make a condition go away. It can help with the grief, worry and stress that come with it, and with finding ways to live well within your limits. We talk about what you have lost and what still matters, how to pace yourself, and how to […]
How do I know if I need counseling for chronic illness and pain?
Some common signs include: you have been diagnosed with a long-term condition and are still absorbing it; pain or illness has changed your work, plans or identity; you feel frustrated, sad or alone with your symptoms; your illness is putting strain on your marriage or family; you are tired of being told to stay positive. […]
When should I reach out for help with sleep and insomnia?
If poor sleep has gone on for a few weeks, or is affecting your days, it is a good time to talk with someone.
How can counseling help with sleep and insomnia?
Sleep problems often have emotional roots, such as anxiety, depression, grief or unresolved stress. We look at what is happening in your life and what your mind and body are doing at night. I help you build calmer evening routines, shift anxious thinking and practice relaxation skills. Because sleep can also have medical causes, I […]
How do I know if I need counseling for sleep and insomnia?
Some common signs include: you lie awake with your mind racing; you wake in the night or too early and cannot get back to sleep; you dread bedtime because you expect a bad night; daytime fatigue is affecting your mood and work; stress, grief or worry seems to be driving the sleeplessness. If any of […]
When should I reach out for help with veterans?
You are welcome whenever you are ready, whether you served recently or long ago. If you are a veteran in crisis, call or text 988 and press 1, or call 911 in an emergency.
How can counseling help with veterans?
You do not have to explain everything on the first day. We go at your pace, starting with what is weighing on you now and what you want to change. I help with stress, relationships and the adjustment to civilian life, and I am glad to include a spouse or family member. If you need […]
How do I know if I need counseling for veterans?
Some common signs include: coming home or leaving service has been harder than you expected; you feel on edge, angry or shut down; your relationships have suffered since you returned; you carry memories or losses you have not talked about; you are not sure where you fit now. If any of this sounds familiar, you […]
When should I reach out for help with women’s issues?
You do not need a crisis to begin. If you feel worn down or unsure, or simply want someone in your corner, you are welcome.