I have been in the field of psychotherapy since 1986.  I am grateful and honored to be able to assist individuals, couples and families in healing trauma; whether it be from one or more serious negative events or relational trauma caused by negative patterns between couple partnerships or other family members.

I am an attachment specialist and believe that we, as mammals, have a “cradle to grave” longing for deep human connection.  We need to be seen, heard, and attuned to when we are upset.  We need our feelings to be validated by another person.  

The impact of trauma can leave a person with a fragile nervous system.  The person can experience flashbacks and states of dysregulation.  It can create fight, flight or freeze patterns of behavior, leaving one feeling alone and disconnected from oneself and loved ones.  Some people cope with this by withdrawing into chemical or behavioral addictions.  Others cope by trying to “pull themselves up by the bootstraps” and suffer silently.  In either case, there is a sense of brokenness and hurt that lingers.  

What we truly need in these times of distress is the ability to turn to another and receive contact, care and comfort.  We need to be seen and validated in this broken place.  In an authentic sense, this is what a therapist provides.

I work with individuals to create a strategic plan of healing past life events using Brainspotting or EMDR.  Together we review the significant events that still impact the individual due to the negative beliefs or patterns formed from those events.  Next, we process and release those traumas one by one or in groups.  As the brain is rewired,  new, more positive and healthy beliefs are formed as a result.  The healed self lives with more compassion for self and others and is more available to live out of this place.  The healed self chooses relationships that are inherently healthier.

My passion is working with couples to strengthen their bond through Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy.  Couples often create negative patterns in their relationships when they don’t feel emotionally safe and are not getting their needs met.  We are constantly coding the behavior of our partner and can misinterpret or misperceive this behavior easily.  These misperceptions lead to frustration and anger which can push the partner further away.  Under the frustration, is generally a more vulnerable emotion such as hurt, fear or sadness.  Under those vulnerable feelings are attachment needs such as love, security, acceptance and respect.