FAQ

Come as you are. We will begin there.

Frequently Asked Questions

I understand why I do this. Why do I still feel stuck?

This is one of the most common experiences people bring to therapy.

Insight is valuable, but understanding something intellectually is different from experiencing it in a new way.

Many of the patterns that shape our lives happen automatically. They live not only in our thoughts, but also in our emotions, our bodies, and the ways we have learned to protect ourselves.

Together, we slow down enough to notice these patterns as they unfold in the present moment. Often, this creates the kind of understanding that talking or thinking alone cannot access.

How do I know if we might be a good fit?

We may be a good fit if...

you have spent a long time trying to understand yourself but still feel stuck
you tend to overthink, overfunction, or put others' needs before your own
you want more than coping strategies—you want to understand why these patterns developed
you are recovering from a difficult or emotionally abusive relationship and are learning to trust yourself again
you are looking for a therapist who values curiosity over judgment and collaboration over advice

I want to feel better. Wouldn't coping skills and strategies be the fastest way to get there?

I think coping strategies can be incredibly helpful, especially when you are feeling overwhelmed or simply trying to get through the day. We may use them at times, particularly if your nervous system needs support before we can explore things more deeply.

At the same time, coping strategies do not always address why you are struggling in the first place.

If your mind is constantly overthinking, your body feels on edge, or you find yourself repeating the same patterns in relationships, another breathing exercise or communication technique may provide temporary relief without creating lasting change.

My approach is to help you understand what your mind and body have been trying to communicate. As that understanding grows, many people notice that they naturally respond to themselves differently. Rather than relying on more strategies to manage your experience, they begin developing a different relationship with it.

Will you tell me what to do?

No, my role is not to give advice or tell you how to live your life. Instead, I help you become more deeply connected to your own experience so that your decisions feel clearer and more aligned with who you are.

Sometimes I will offer ideas, reflections, or psychoeducation when they are helpful. But rather than providing answers, I aim to help you discover your own.

How long does therapy take? I want to feel better now.

I hear you, you are struggling, exhausted, and just want to feel better. Therapy is individualized and every person's journey is different, so there isn't one clear time frame.

Some people come to therapy with a specific concern they would like support navigating. Others are interested in understanding lifelong patterns or developing a different relationship with themselves over time.

Rather than measuring progress by how quickly symptoms disappear, I tend to look for the quieter changes: feeling more connected to yourself, responding with greater self-compassion, noticing patterns sooner, and having more choice in how you respond.

Those small shifts often become the foundation for lasting change.

Do I have to talk about my past?

Not unless it feels helpful.

Our past often helps us understand why certain patterns developed, but therapy is not about searching for memories or staying stuck in what happened.

We pay close attention to what is happening in the present because that is where change becomes possible. Sometimes the past naturally becomes part of the conversation. Other times, the most meaningful work happens by noticing what your experience is telling us right now.

Why do you spend so much time slowing things down?

Our minds and bodies are incredibly quick.

By the time we notice we are anxious, shutting down, people-pleasing, or criticizing ourselves, those patterns are often already well underway.

When everything happens automatically, it is difficult to understand what is actually going on.

Slowing down gives us the opportunity to notice the small moments we would normally miss, the tightening in your chest before you say "yes," the critical thought that appears before you even realize it is there, or the feeling that tells you it is no longer safe to speak.

These moments may seem small, but they often hold the greatest opportunities for understanding.

And it is often through these small shifts in awareness that new possibilities begin to emerge.

Who do you work with?

As an experiential therapist, I am interested in your experience in this world, as a person, not as a diagnosis you may have been given. Your presenting problem is secondary, your experience is primary.

I work with people who have learned to survive by overthinking, overfunctioning, disconnecting from themselves, or adapting to difficult relationships. Together, we slow down to understand those patterns and create more flexibility.

I also work with many clients who have experienced narcissistic or emotional abuse, either from a partner, family member or other significant person in their life.

What actually happens in session?

Every session is different because every person is different.

Sometimes we will talk about what has happened during your week. Other times, we may slow down and spend time with something that is happening right here in the session, a feeling, a body sensation, a hesitation, or a familiar pattern.

There is no pressure to perform or "do therapy right." We simply begin with what feels most present and allow that experience to guide us.