Each person’s bereavement experience is different. My approach to working with people experiencing bereavement is grounded in narrative therapy. I embrace what Michael White (co-creator of narrative therapy) wrote about the “uniqueness” of each person’s grief experience and about not imposing expectations on people about what they should feel. Additionally, a narrative approach invites reflection on the ways in which we say “goodbye” after someone dies, as well as ways we can “say hello again” to this person’s presence and impacts in our daily lives.

What does this look like in practice? When we meet, we can discuss your relationship with the person who died as a relationship that is evolving, not one that has ended. I ask questions that provide opportunities for you to explore this relationship – getting to know the person from your perspective, and if appropriate, getting to know you through their perspective, too. We also talk about your day-to-day experience as far as what is painful or challenging now, what that’s like for you, and ways to navigate what you are experiencing. Relative to advice or messages you may hear from other people about how to feel or what to do, I’ll ask you questions that center your perspectives and invite you to take a position on what feels meaningful and helpful to you.

More broadly, we can also discuss what you feel might be important to reconnect with or stay connected to – whether that’s hope, joy, a particular activity, special memories, or something else.

If substance use is having impacts on your life that concern, frustrate, or sadden you, you are certainly not alone. And if you’re looking for a place to explore – and perhaps revise – your relationship with substance use, I’d be glad to hear from you. The focus of our work will be shaped by your individual needs and goals, both of which may evolve over time. Wherever you are is a good place to start!

My approach is non-judgmental and collaborative, and it honors your strengths and values. Narrative therapy frames my approach, and I also draw from my training in motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and trauma-informed substance use treatment.

I have worked with people of all ages, individually and in groups, around substance use – and the many topics and areas of life that are often interwoven, including relationships, work, school, finances, traumatic experiences, grief, depression, anxiety, and health conditions. Some clients utilize individual therapy as their main formal support, while others find individual therapy helpful alongside groups led by professionals or peers, and/or medication-assisted treatment (MAT).

I work often with people who have experienced or had exposure to traumatic events, including multiple or ongoing traumas. My training and experience include a focus on supporting survivors of domestic violence.

When people seek therapy related to trauma, it is often to address the effects of trauma. These can include anger, grief, depression, isolation, distrust, fear, shame, sleep difficulties, hypervigilance, intrusive memories, risk-taking, avoidance, and disinterest. I would be glad to work with you in any of these areas. Additionally, one of my goals for trauma-related work is to not just reduce the influence of traumatic experiences on your life – but to help your mood, outlook, sense of yourself, and day-to-day life become how you would like them to be.

In working with people seeking therapy for the effects of traumatic events, I know that different people want and need different kinds of conversations. In doing this work, I draw from a variety of therapeutic approaches, depending on your needs. Your experiences, preferences, support system, goals, and symptoms will all shape our work. And of course, our focus and the nature of our conversations may evolve over time. I look forward to meeting you where you are, and to checking in regularly on how our work together is going for you.

I enjoy working with clients who are musicians (and other types of performers or presenters). This is often around performance-related anxiety, as well as work-life balance and other topics. As a part-time musician who has led workshops on “taming performance jitters,” our work may draw on a number of strategies that might be helpful if you are looking to reduce the impacts of stress and judgment, and to reconnect with your music, audience, and/or self. Whether you are performing (or presenting) in-person, online, or both, we can work together on whatever challenges you’re facing.