When therapy takes place at the right time with the right person, it can be a powerful, comforting, and life-changing experience. I have been in the mental health field for over two decades. My areas of expertise include anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, life transitions, and cross-cultural and diversity issues. Even though my initial experience is working with children and adolescents, most of my caseload over the years has been adult clients. It is a gift for me to be able to offer a safe space for parents to learn about themselves while finding ways to connect with their children in a meaningful way. I find value in working with moms of young children and teens who find parenting difficult and worrisome. I am experienced in working with clients who are feeling overwhelmed and struggling to find balance in life, experiencing overall life dissatisfaction, feeling stuck with unresolved trauma and family dynamics, and feeling tired of long-term mental health, body image, and unhealthy behavioral and identity issues. I am also keen on working with people who enter therapy for the first time, as well as with those who experience anxiety and depression, behavioral addiction, relationship issues, stress, anger, and identity and self-esteem issues.
Over the last few years, our lifestyle has changed drastically. Technology has impacted the way we spend our time, the way we priority our needs, and the way we interact with people around us. I am well aware that simply living has become more challenging to both children and adults. The more our lifestyle forces us to speed up to the competitive, fast-pace, high-tech world, the more important it is that I help my clients to slow down and get curious about themselves. I encourage clients to be patient as they give themselves permission to learn from the process, know how to check in with their heart (vs. reasoning), and live in the present moment. Last-longing life changes are the results of courage, commitment, and time. I believe that together we can find hope again.
When working with adults
I focus on psychodynamic therapy and supportive therapy to help my clients gain more insights into unhelpful behaviors and belief systems, unresolved conflicts, and unconscious motivations and habits that impact how they function and relate to others. Strong feelings (such as shame, guilt, fear, and anger) will start to diminish when clients can connect the dots and see things more objectively.
Internal family system (IFS) is another modality that I incorporate into my work. I encourage clients to be curious about different parts of themselves (the critic, the perfectionist, the guilt, the intellect, the anxiety, etc.) and learn to listen to those parts instead of pushing them away or avoiding them. When clients allow themselves to listen with curiosity, they will start learning more and develop compassion towards themselves. Clients will become less reactive, grounded, and whole again.
These direct and compassionate approaches help my clients by increasing their awareness of their system (self and parts), thoughts, feelings, relationships patterns, and unhealthy coping strategies that can get in the way of happiness and success. They will gain a better understanding of the different parts of themselves and know how to work those parts together as a team. I have seen long-lasting changes manifest when my clients grow and adopt self-compassion and begin to connect with their true self.
When working with children and teens
While working with children and teens, experience has taught me that listening actively, demonstrating transparency, and acting respectfully allow me to earn trust and build strong therapeutic relationships with my clients. I believe trusting relationships are crucial, but they are not the whole story: Children need coaching, honest explorations of their struggles, and concrete skills to move forward and grow. To help my clients become unstuck, I draw from a variety of therapeutic models such as supportive therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, mindfulness practice, strength-based approaches, internal family system, and psychodynamic therapy. Because each client is unique, I know it is important to tailor the treatment based upon an individual’s specific needs.
Initial Intake with Children and Teens
I work with children aged 8 and up. For new clients aged 8–11, I invite the parent(s) or guardians to meet with me first without the child for a 60-minute intake session. The goal is to learn about their concerns and understand their family history and dynamics. After the session with the parent(s), a 50-minute session with the child and the parent(s) will be scheduled. Involving parents in the treatment plan early on is crucial because I believe that parents know their children best. My role is to help parents discover ways to strengthen their connections with their children and show their love in a way that supports their children’s needs while bolstering their independence.
I invite older children (11 and up) to come with their parent(s) for an 80-mintue intake session. This way, I can start building an alliance with the teens right away. With the patient’s permission, I will check in with their parents periodically to discuss treatment goals and progress or to coach parents on how to better communicate with their teens. A brief phone consultation with me will help you determine which approach is best for you and your family.
Privacy and Confidentiality
The information provided by and to the client during therapy sessions is legally confidential and cannot be released without the client’s consent. For therapy to be effective, it is my responsibility to protect my client’s confidentiality. However, I am mandated by law to report child, dependent adult, and elder abuse; a threat to harm others; and any intention to harm oneself.
In the state of Colorado, a child 12 years and older is able to sign himself, herself, or themselves into confidential psychotherapy. Confidentiality does not have any age limit; children and teens need to feel safe in order to build trust and utilize therapy effectively.