ABOUT THE methods & modalities that guide HOW WE “DO THE WORK” —

What it is:
ACT helps us build a different relationship with difficult thoughts and emotions. Rather than trying to eliminate discomfort, we focus on making space for it while taking actions that align with what matters most to you.

What it looks like in practice:
If anxiety is keeping you from pursuing meaningful goals, we might work on developing skills to tolerate discomfort while gradually moving toward the life you want, even when anxiety is present.

What it is:
Behavioral Activation, a CBT technique, is based on the idea that our actions and emotions influence one another. When depression, stress, or burnout lead us to withdraw from activities, our mood often worsens. Together, we identify ways to reconnect with meaningful experiences.

What it looks like in practice:
If you've lost motivation or feel stuck, we might create a gradual plan to increase activities that bring a sense of accomplishment, connection, or enjoyment—even before you feel motivated to do them.

What it is:
CBT focuses on the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It helps us identify patterns that may be contributing to distress and develop more balanced, helpful ways of thinking and responding.

What it looks like in practice:
If you frequently assume the worst will happen, we might examine the evidence for those beliefs and explore alternative perspectives that better reflect reality.

What it is:
DBT helps people develop skills for managing intense emotions, navigating relationships, tolerating distress, and staying present in the moment.

What it looks like in practice:
If emotions sometimes feel overwhelming, we might practice concrete strategies to manage difficult situations, communicate more effectively, and respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively.

I am currently in the process of becoming nationally Certified in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (C-DBT).

What it is:
Health Psychology explores how stress, emotions, relationships, habits, and life experiences affect physical health. By understanding the connection between mind and body, we can identify psychological factors that may be contributing to symptoms, medical conditions, recovery, or overall well-being.

What it looks like in practice:
For example, chronic stress may worsen pain, digestive issues, sleep problems, or autoimmune symptoms. Together, we examine how psychological and physical factors interact in your life and use evidence-based strategies to improve both emotional and physical health, helping you feel better and function more effectively day to day.

What it is:
Mindfulness is a therapeutic approach that involves paying attention to present-moment experiences with curiosity and without judgment. I use mindfulness to help clients become more aware of their emotions, physical sensations, and internal experiences, which can increase self-understanding and support emotion regulation.

What it looks like in practice:
If you're feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure of what you're experiencing, I may guide you in slowing down and checking in with yourself. Together, we might identify and name emotions, notice where those emotions show up in the body, and explore physical sensations such as tension, tightness, heaviness, or changes in breathing. This can help increase awareness of the connection between emotional and physical experiences and provide a foundation for responding more intentionally to difficult emotions.

What it is:
Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative approach that helps people explore ambivalence and strengthen their motivation for change. Rather than telling you what to do, I help you identify your own reasons for change.

What it looks like in practice:
If part of you wants to make a change while another part feels uncertain, we might explore both sides and clarify what feels most important to you moving forward.

What it is:
Narrative Therapy explores the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and what we've experienced. It emphasizes that emotions like anger, sadness, or fear are natural responses to the world, rather than personal defects. This reduces the urge to suppress them, which promotes emotional expression and reduces distress.

What it looks like in practice:
If you view yourself primarily through the lens of past struggles or mistakes, we may work together to identify strengths, resilience, and alternative stories that better reflect the full picture of your life.

What it is:
Positive Psychology focuses not only on reducing distress but also on building strengths, resilience, meaning, and overall well-being.

What it looks like in practice:
Alongside addressing challenges, we may identify what is already working in your life and explore ways to cultivate purpose, connection, gratitude, or other sources of fulfillment.

What it is:
Psychodynamic Therapy explores how past experiences, relationships, and unconscious patterns may continue to influence and shape your current thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, often bringing avoided emotions into conscious awareness so they can be “processed,” or worked through.

What it looks like in practice:
We may look at your past relationships and childhood history to see how these early experiences shaped who you are today, and understand why painful patterns or reactions keep repeating in your life. By bringing these into your awareness, you will gain insight needed to slow automatic reactions, giving you more freedom to make new choices.