During our sessions I will first get to know you and explore what brings you to therapy to figure out how to tailor our sessions to fit your personal goals or needs. This is a collaborative process where we explore your strengths and challenges. I will gather a developmental and biopsychosocial history of your life from conception to the present to get an understanding of your life and how the events and people in your life have helped shape who you are now. I hold the belief that you are the expert in you, and I am walking beside you on this path called "therapy" to support you in your healing and growth as an individual or family.
I offer a therapy service guided by theory from a variety of therapeutic modalities and primarily use the below theoretical frameworks for conceptualizing treatment.
My preferred evidence-based* theories and frameworks I draw from are the following:
AF-EMDR/ Attachment Focused Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
Interpersonal Neurobiology and Attachment Theory
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Experiential and In Vivo Methods
Equine interactions
Outdoor therapy
Somatic Awareness
Mindfulness
Trauma-Informed
Strength-Based
Solution-Focused
Social Justice Oriented
So what does "evidence-based" mean?
In psychotherapy, Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) is a decision-making framework that integrates three essential components to ensure a patient receives the most effective care possible. It is often visualized as a "three-legged stool," where the stability of the treatment depends on all three parts working together.
The Three Core Pillars
Best Available Research: This involves using the latest peer-reviewed, scientific evidence—such as randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses—to identify which treatments are proven to work for specific conditions (e.g., CBT for anxiety).
Clinical Expertise: A therapist uses their specialized training, judgment, and past experience to interpret scientific data and apply it to a real-world setting. This includes the ability to form a strong therapeutic alliance and monitor patient progress.
Patient Characteristics & Values: Treatment is tailored to the individual’s unique needs, including their cultural background, personal preferences, goals, and life circumstances (such as financial or social support levels).
Some of the issues with research around evidence-based practices and psychotherapy is that quantifying particular aspects of healing are difficult to measure and prove. However, I believe in agency and choice in healing and hold dear that each human does have the capacity to heal and access strength and resilience in their own being. Therefore, within my care and scope of practice I believe change comes from within. Any "sources" of healing that may be seen or felt on the outside are already inside a person. I do not endorse anyone claiming to have spiritual healing (access to higher power that can be transfered to heal another person) or animals to be healers of people. However, people do heal within a relationship that embodies trust, care and ethical responsibility on the part of the person in that supportive role whether they are a friend, mentor or medical professional.