Why do you do this work?
I do this work because I love to help people stop torturing themselves, feel better, and live the kind of life they want to live.
What led you to this work?
I’ve had my own struggles with self-acceptance. I know what it’s like to feel flawed, unworthy, and “not good enough.” The release I’ve experienced from those painful thoughts and feelings has been incredibly freeing and I love to help others reach that same place.
How do you do this work?
I work primarily from a mindfulness model called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). As an ACT therapist, I assist my clients in developing tools and strategies that help them drop their struggle with painful thoughts and feelings and then commit to taking action toward a more meaningful life.
So many of us are wandering around looking from our thoughts and feelings instead of at them. When we look from our thoughts and feelings, we get hooked into our experience—we spend too much time in our head, a place that isn’t always realistic or truthful.
I believe that many of us get locked into dysfunctional ways of relating to others and to ourselves. But we can learn some fairly easy and practical ways to let go of the things that don’t work for us and establish new healthy habits that will make our lives more meaningful and bring us peace.
ACT helps us realize that we don’t have to be locked inside our own experience. We can learn how to simply notice what is happening in the current moment and figure out ways to keep moving toward what’s important to us and we value most. We do this in spite of the obstacles we face, not necessarily by getting rid of the obstacles.
Why do you practice ACT?
I work from the ACT model because a large body of research shows that it is a highly effective evidence-based treatment. I’ve observed firsthand how powerful ACT can be in changing the way a person thinks and feels, and how it helps them take action toward living a more fulfilling life. And, it can be a lot of fun!
What can I expect as a client?
You can expect a welcoming environment that isn’t scary. I’m warm, accepting, and funny. (I think I’m super funny, but that’s another story.)
During our first session, I will ask you a lot of questions. I want to learn what brings you to therapy, what you’ve done to try to address the issue, and what you hope therapy will do for you. If we have time, I will ask you some questions about your family background; if we don’t have time, we’ll do this in the second session.
I believe that how we were raised informs much of what we do and how we feel as adults, so getting that family history is an important part of our work together, but we won’t delve deep and spend a lot of time talking about details in your past.
Then we’ll get into the heart of our work: figuring out a plan to help you get where you want to be and then following that plan. You’ll learn skills and concepts that will help you break unhelpful habits and learn new, more effective ones. And you’ll find out what’s really important to you in your life and how you can maximize that.
The length of this process varies quite a bit. Some people are ready to leave therapy after four to six sessions and others take longer or even much, much, longer. Sometimes, people work on one issue and then choose to continue and we work on another. That decision is always up to you and we’ll be sure to discuss your progress together as we move toward your goal.
If you want to feel heard, accepted, and welcomed and you want to figure out a new way to experience a fulfilling, meaningful life, then I’m your person. Contact me here or click on the button below so we can get started.
What is your therapeutic style?
I’m a very casual person. I dress casually, I speak in conversational ways (as opposed to psychological jargon,) and I’m down-to-earth. While I appreciate spirituality and symbolism, I’m not an airy-fairy, aromatherapy, and great-goddess therapist (not that there’s anything wrong with that). I’m funny, practical, and helpful. And I get very excited about sharing helpful ideas with others.
I utilize ACT in the majority of my practice. I’m also a Myers Briggs Type Indicator Certified Practitioner, so we can easily add some helpful personality style information to our work as needed.
What don’t you do?
I don’t . . .
- Analyze your toilet-training experience
- Ask woo-woo questions that don’t relate to what we’re talking about
- Insist that you have a particular disorder
- Assume your problem stems from one specific thing
I don’t provide therapy in the following areas, but I will find good referrals for you:
- Eating disorders
- Addiction
- Couples counseling
- Family therapy
- Child or adolescent therapy
- Severe trauma
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Ready to get started?
Click the “Request Appointment” button below or give me a call at 650-380-6985 to set up an appointment or a free 15-minute consultation. You can also email me here.
I look forward to working with you!