My approach
I think therapy should be an empowering, straightforward, and welcoming experience. Forget the old-fashioned, “misty magical” and old sage men and women with glasses nodding and asking, “Hmm, hmm, okay…..and how do you feel about that?” I want our work together to be full of self-reflection and action with you in the driver’s seat. I view my role to be one of support and encouragement, but by no means do I have all the answers. I’ll be active in the room (or screen!) but I don’t view myself as “the expert” in your experience or your future. You are the star of your show; my role is to help you get to a way of life that’s better than it is now.
The core values that guide my therapy work are kindness, autonomy, self-respect, and compassion. I believe we need to have respect for ourselves and compassion for others and that people have the agency and autonomy to make those decisions and do good to one another. When we respect ourselves and each other, I believe that breeds kindness. I aim to provide care to my clients by supporting them in their journeys rather than laying the path of bread crumbs out for them. Why would I interrupt and take away from your power?
I believe that you are an expert on your life and have many strengths and skills, likely more than you realize. I see my job as helping you discover and start using these skills more effectively to have positive impacts on your life.
What is this “Momentum” talk about
When we think of therapy, we think of overstuffed couches or chaises where we ask a doctor what’s wrong with us. In our work together, we will be creating good change, perhaps with a good amount of encouragement and support, with the intent of you carrying that forward. The energy we create in session is going to keep rolling in the between space in your day to day life.
We are in fact, going to be taking this OUTSIDE! The human body wasn’t designed to sit still for 8 or more hours a day. I invite clients to take advantage of the Outer Sunset (Sunset Dunes Park, Golden Gate Park or location we can agree upon) and have WALK and TALK sessions outside. Sometimes we hold tight to the emotions and fears and trauma in our heads and with movement, we are able to loosen our fast grip on these and learn ways to manage, learn and grow from them.
I am excited to announce that in addition to Walk and Talk sessions, I am able to provide ROCK CLIMBING sessions both indoors (in a climbing gym) or outdoors (at local San Francisco Bay Area crags or other location we can agree upon). I have been a climber for 20+ years and had the opportunity to climb at locales as close as the Castro and as far away as Australia. I have earned professional certificates to prepare me to bring clients outside as well as advanced first aid. My hope is to support folks working through:
trauma (clients being able to make choices for their own bodies, be able to trust the experience as it unfolds)
depression (concrete evidence that they CAN do things they once thought impossible when they are standing at the top of a mountain or a route) and
anxiety (mindfulness and body awareness helps center the mind)
To name just a few.
