About Therapy
Ever wonder what it is like to sit in a therapy session?
To have someone sit across from you, without judgment and really listen to what you have to say? Someone who has the ability to help you handle whatever has brought you here today?
Close your eyes (when you are done reading this, of course) and imagine a cozy space in which you sit across from me as your therapist. You are sharing your innermost thoughts and your life’s journey. Your worries and concerns… along with your hopes and dreams for the future.
What would you say? How do you imagine it feels to share the details of your life with me – a supportive, understanding, non-judgmental, relatable, sex-positive therapist? To hear my responses and encouragement as we work together to create healthy relationships and coping skills, placing you firmly on the path that you have always wanted to be?
It can be difficult admitting to ourselves that we can’t solve everything on our own.
We may not even know what it is that is getting in our way. We are often unprepared for some of the most difficult life experiences and need to be taught the skills to cope so that we overcome them.
Sometimes we need someone else, someone who can help us recognize what we can do to feel better.
Together, we will create a safe environment for you to explore what brought you here in the first place.
Are you struggling with anxiety or depression? A recent divorce? Is your relationship suffering because you and your partner have very different sexual needs and desires? Or perhaps you are feeling overwhelmed and unfulfilled but can’t put your finger on why?
As a kink and poly competent therapist, I speak the language, understand the dynamics and have connections in the local community. Many clients find it helpful to see someone who understands the lifestyle.
Getting you from where you are to where you want to be…
I have been a strengths-based, solutions-focused therapist for over 15 years. Essentially, I help clients focus on the things they are already doing well and what is working for them. Then we build upon those strengths with specific goals in mind.
Together, we go from where you are now to where you want to be without spending years in therapy by starting at the beginning.
I use the tenets of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to adjust your thinking and perspective. We all have the capacity for a range of emotions to a variety of situations. But did you know that you can change your feelings to any given situation by changing the way you think about that situation? That is what CBT is all about.
Conquering struggles and building better relationships…
These are the keys to a richer, happier life with loving and lasting ties that bind.
It can be difficult to look inward and really examine what happened to get you to this point and why. But introspection is necessary to move forward. And while that can be painful, it is also enlightening.
By engaging in the therapeutic process, you will come to know yourself better, gain healthier coping skills, and find the strength to make the changes necessary to be happier and more fulfilled.
Don’t put off your happiness any longer. Give me a call today: (916) 715-3538.
About Me
I always wanted to be a therapist.
Well, that or a nurse, but after nearly vomiting upon the sight of a gaping head wound when volunteering as a candy striper in the ER at the tender age of 16, I gave up any aspirations in the medical field.
Which is just as well, as being a therapist is my passion with less mess, better shoes, and conscious clients.
Here’s how I got into therapy…
When I was eight, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. My home life was turned upside down, as I struggled to comprehend what was happening.
No one seemed to understand my fears and concerns. No one, that is, except Patti, my school counselor. She helped me express myself and cope with what was happening.
I knew then that I wanted to help others feel understood and find ways to see beyond their current struggles and pain.
Education and training…
I received my bachelors from University of Colorado in 1999 with a major in psychology. Loving the life of Colorado and the ski slopes, I stayed in the area and attended the University of Denver.
I graduated with my Masters of Social Work in 2001. I became a licensed therapist in Colorado in 2003 and shortly after moved to Northern California. After staying home for a few years with young children, I was licensed here in California in 2006 and began to work as a therapist again. I am a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).
When I’m not doing therapy…
I pretend I am a genius in the kitchen, fold laundry, watch anime with the kids… you know… normal divorced mom stuff.
On the weekends, I can be found sampling the fine wines of northern California. From Amador County to Napa, there are few things I enjoy more than a glass of red, especially if that glass comes with good company and conversation.
Add Netflix to the mix, and it’s the perfect evening.