What to expect

Starting therapy can bring up a lot of questions. You don’t need to know exactly what you want to work on—or even how to say it—part of the process is figuring that out together.

I don’t believe therapy is one-size-fits-all. I see the body, mind, and spirit as interconnected systems that are constantly responding to both internal and external environments. When these systems have experienced stress, trauma, or prolonged pressure, they adapt in ways meant to help us cope.

My goal is to help you deepen your understanding of your experiences, so you feel more resourced and able to guide yourself. Feeling safe in therapy doesn’t mean avoiding discomfort entirely—it means working in ways that respect your pace, capacity, and choice.

Sessions are collaborative and paced with care. Some may feel more practical and focused, others more reflective or exploratory. Together, we’ll explore different ways of working and build a plan that supports your whole system. You’re encouraged to ask questions, share feedback, and be an active part of shaping the work. Therapy isn’t about fixing you; it’s about understanding yourself and your responses in a way that increases flexibility, choice, and clarity.

Because I’ve trained in a range of approaches, I integrate different models thoughtfully rather than using a single method for everyone. Each approach is selected to support your whole system, with attention to your body, mind, and lived experience. Below, you’ll find an overview of the different therapy models that inform my work and how they might influence our sessions together

Therapy Models That Guide Our Work Together

  • A young girl with shoulder-length hair sitting in a field of small white daisies during sunset.

    Internal Family Systems

    IFS helps us understand the different parts of ourselves that develop in response to life experiences, often to protect or support us under stress. Rather than trying to eliminate certain responses, we explore their role and create more flexibility in how they operate. This approach supports self-leadership and compassion, allowing your naturally curious, centered “Self” to guide the system and respond to internal experiences with presence and choice.

    Through this work, we can notice patterns that arise automatically, understand their origins, and gently create new ways of responding. IFS encourages integration between different parts of the mind and body, helping you feel more aligned, balanced, and able to engage with your world in ways that fit your life.

  • Emotion Focused Therapy

    EFT helps people develop a clearer and more workable relationship with their emotional experience. Rather than becoming overwhelmed or disconnected, this approach supports emotions in becoming understandable and tolerable.

    In my work, EFT is used in a contained and paced way. The focus isn’t on intensity, but on helping emotions provide information rather than disrupt. Through experiential work, emotions are met with attention and care—supported, understood, and allowed to move. This helps people notice their reactions with compassion and respond more mindfully in everyday life, increasing clarity, choice, and flexibility.

  • A woman with long dark hair and a backpack sitting by a lake, looking at snow-capped mountains in the distance with evergreen trees along the shoreline.

    Cognitive Behavior Therapy

    CBT can be a helpful starting point for noticing how thought patterns influence behavior and internal experience. It’s particularly useful for spotting when thinking becomes rigid or distorted, and for exploring ways to shift internal dialogue.

    In my practice, CBT is used as a supportive tool rather than a primary approach. While changes in thinking are valuable, they are often not enough on their own. If the body or nervous system doesn’t feel safe and aligned, shifts in thought can be difficult to sustain. For this reason, CBT is integrated alongside approaches that attend more directly to the body, nervous system, and lived experience