Philosophy & Approach

 
 
 
 
 
 

“History is not the past, it is the present. We carry our history with us. We are our history.”

— James Baldwin

 
 
 

I believe that people are resilient social beings. We each have the capacity to bounce back from challenges, maintain positive experiences, and grow from our experiences despite life stressors. At our core is our need for security and connection; both of which are crucial to our well-being. The manner we relate to ourselves, to others, and to the world around us can affirm or disaffirm our feelings of safety, acceptance and belonging. To this end, I see that we primarily interact with the world through our emotions and bodies as experienced by our senses, processed by our thoughts, and reconciled by our language. It is from the place of social interdependence that we create a meaningful reality and experience an ultimate sense of well-being.

My therapeutic approach is to collaboratively and experientially guide clients towards their resilience, identify obstacles or blocks, to extend hope, and to empower them in creating narratives that allow for a fulfilling and satisfying life. I intentionally work with emotions to strengthen bonds in relationships, rely on the wisdom of the body to address trauma, and promote strength-based thinking. I view clients in the context of their attachment histories, families, racial or ethnic identities, cultures and social environments because these are the factors that shape our experiences of self, others and the world.

To collaborate entails your active engagement in therapy and to be experientiaIly guided means helping you reconnect with your body and emotions in real time.

I believe consistent with Eubanks and Goldfried’s common change principles (2019) that change happens through the process of therapy when. . .

  • we have a secure working relationship;

  • we can access new insights and hope together;

  • we are able to facilitate you having different experiences from the ones your body currently holds, including with your loved ones; and

  • we consistently acknowledge the shifts you are making.