Challenges to Self-Confidence, Self-Esteem and Decision-Making

Do you struggle with emotional intimacy and closeness in your relationships? Is it difficult to know when to trust others, let alone your own behaviors? Do you have emotional outbursts towards your partner, or sometimes ‘check out’ of an uncomfortable conversation? If you see yourself in any of these questions, you’re not alone.

Our families of origin and the experiences we have with our caretakers in childhood largely shape the ways in which we perceive and respond to others in our adult lives. Growing up in environments that are unsupportive, unresponsive, or unsafe at the hands of our caregivers often leads to persistent challenges as described above. In our time together, we will identify the core wounds that developed through your childhood experiences, examine the ways in which those wounds are showing up in your life presently, and work to create lasting change.

Where helpful, I use mind-body connection practices to help you process the sources of family of origin and attachment wounds, to create personal boundaries to restore meaningful connections in your relationships and with yourself, and to develop realistic and accessible coping strategies to help you finally begin healing from long-standing wounds. Since the work of exploring our family of origin issues can at times feel intense or uncomfortable, I take the time to first build a trusting relationship and a safe space, allowing you to feel secure and supported in your exploration of childhood experiences and how they have shaped you.

PTSD and adults recovering from childhood trauma

As adults, the effects of trauma and neglect from an earlier age may show up as recurring relational conflicts, intense self-criticism, difficulty regulating emotions, persistent depression, hypersensitivity to rejection, struggles with emotional intimacy, or anxiety. If you’re experiencing any of these feelings and events and they are affecting your everyday life, I can help.

I specialize in working alongside young adult and adult survivors of childhood abuse and neglect, and individuals who are curious about exploring their childhood experiences to further understand if trauma was a factor and post-traumatic stress (PTSD) is in play now. In its essence, childhood trauma occurs when there is an absence of safety. Together we will explore the roots of your attachments, the impact of your earliest experiences on your present relationships and life circumstances, and the ways that you can adjust old patterns into new behaviors to enhance your life and restore emotional connection. 

Dating, Relational Issues, & Couples Therapy

Whether you have experienced a significant rupture in your relationship or are simply curious to see if couples therapy can strengthen your bond with your partner(s), I welcome you in to explore your relational needs. I work with individuals and couples navigating issues including infidelity, loss of emotional intimacy, life and role transitions, and communication challenges.

I am supportive of expansive relationship structures (polyamory, consensual non-monogamy, etc.) and welcome individuals who identify on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum in to explore the sensitive nature of relationships. Together, we will identify the present challenges you are facing and the deep attachment needs that underlie your present behaviors. With renewed clarity, we will work to improve your communication of needs to your partner(s), bring in self-regulation and co-regulation skills to use during periods of tension and disconnect, and increase overall emotional intimacy between you and your partner(s).