Therapeutic Approaches

Therapy with me isn’t about slapping a label on your struggles or following a rigid plan. It’s about finding what works for you - what actually helps you feel better, lighter, and more like yourself.

I take an integrative, trauma-informed approach, meaning I pull from different evidence-based modalities to support your healing in a way that feels safe, personalized, and effective.

If you’re someone who likes to know the “how” and “why” of therapy, here’s a look at some of the approaches I use.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

When painful experiences feel “stuck” in your mind and body, EMDR helps you process them so they stop feeling so overwhelming.

EMDR uses guided bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or sounds) to help your brain reprocess distressing memories, reducing their emotional intensity. It doesn’t erase what happened, but it can help you move forward without feeling consumed by the past.

  • Helps reduce emotional intensity tied to traumatic memories.

  • Supports nervous system regulation, reducing triggers and anxiety.

  • Best for: PTSD, childhood trauma, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and distressing life events.

Video Source: EMDR International Association (EMDRIA). Introduction to EMDR Therapy. Retrieved from https://www.emdria.org.

Internal family systems (IFS)

Ever feel like different parts of you are at war with each other? Maybe part of you wants to be a mother, another part is scared. Part of you knows your childhood was overwhelming, another part of you knows your parents did the best they could. Part of you craves connection, but another is terrified of being vulnerable.

Much like your own family has different parts of it, you also have an inner family inside your mind - your internal family system.

IFS helps us explore these parts - not to get rid of them, but to understand and heal them. Many of these parts developed as survival strategies in response to past wounds. With care and compassion, we help them find new, healthier roles so you can move through life with more ease.

  • Helps untangle emotional patterns rooted in past experiences.

  • Encourages self-compassion and inner healing.

  • Best for: Childhood trauma, attachment wounds, shame, and self-doubt.

Video Source: IFS Guide. What is IFS Therapy? (Internal Family Systems). Retrieved from YouTube.

Mind-Body Therapy (Somatic, DBT, & Narrative Therapy)

Trauma doesn’t just live in your thoughts—it lives in your body. That’s why healing has to be more than just talking.

I integrate a combination of:

  • Somatic Therapy helps release tension and stored trauma through body awareness and movement.

  • DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) supports emotional regulation, mindfulness, and distress tolerance.

  • Narrative Therapy helps you take ownership of your story instead of feeling defined by the hard parts.

This means our work might include breathing techniques, mindfulness, or noticing how emotions show up physically - always at your pace.

  • Helps build resilience and emotional regulation.

  • Encourages connection between mind, body, and emotions.

  • Best for: Anxiety, stress, trauma stored in the body, and overwhelming emotions.

Video Source: NICABM (National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine). Peter Levine on Working with Trauma That’s Stuck in the Body. Retrieved from YouTube.

therapy that feels safe & supportive

Therapy with me is not about “fixing” you - because you are not broken. It’s about creating space to process what’s been heavy, untangle old patterns, and move toward a life that feels lighter, more aligned, and more you.

Healing doesn’t happen overnight. We move at a manageable pace that feels safe for your nervous system. There’s no rush, no pressure—just space to breathe, process, and grow.

You don’t have to do this alone.

Together, we’ll create a path toward restoration.