Individual Therapy

It’s normal for each of us to experience times when we aren’t feeling as good or are struggling with our mood. Depression is a little different.  When we are depressed we aren’t always able to explain why we are feeling this way. Depression impacts how we think, how we feel, and how we behave. We might notice specific symptoms like:

*feeling extra tired or having trouble sleeping

*feeling more hungry than usual or having no appetite at all

*wanting to avoid people or places that we typically enjoy

*losing interest in things that we once enjoyed

*having trouble in our relationships

*not feeling hopeful about life

Depression is a common brain illness.  The World Health Organization estimates that 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men will experience depression in their lifetime.  Depression also does not discriminate.  People can suffer from depression at any age and  regardless of their relationship status, work stability, race, ethnicity, etc.

If you find that your mood is interfering in your life, it might be a good time to reach out for help. Therapy is a useful tool in treating depression.  In therapy, we will work together to identify patterns of behavior and thoughts that might actually be supporting your depression.  Together we can work to break those patterns and help you to find new ways of managing your thoughts and feelings.

It’s undeniable that life comes with stress. We live in a busy, fast-paced world where the demands are high, and we are faced with daily challenges. It’s normal to worry about things from time to time, but when our worries escalate we may need specialized support to help manage. Some symptoms of anxiety include:

*Excessive worry or difficulty “letting go”

*Feelings of fear or panic

*Feeling nervous

*Physical symptoms such as racing heart, sweating, shortness of breath, upset stomach

*Difficulty sleeping

*Avoiding activities that trigger negative feelings

*Difficulty focusing or not thinking about what worries you

*Doing certain things over and over to help reduce negative feelings

*Challenges in your relationships

There are many approaches that can be helpful in treating anxiety. We can work together to help identify the underlying causes of your anxiety and make a specialized plan to respond to your specific needs. It is very helpful to identify certain thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors that support the anxiety, and work to challenge and change those. We may utilize relaxation techniques, helping you to focus on the immediate needs, and explore experiences that may influence your unique situation. We will help you to learn new ways to manage stress so that things to do not continue to escalate and interfere in your life.

Despite our best efforts bad things can happen.  Sometimes we are caught off guard by something, but are able to process it and move through it. Sometimes, we get stuck. Maybe it was a car accident, a home invasion, a health issue, a relationship ending, loss of a loved one, experiences of violence such as war, sexual violence or intimate partner violence.  And, maybe, this big event has “stuck with you.”  Maybe you’re struggling with thinking about it often or changing your behavior in response. Maybe you’ve been struggling with:

*intrusive thoughts

*feeling nervous with situations that previously felt safe

*feeling always “on guard”

*trouble sleeping

*nightmares

*not feeling like yourself

*overreacting

*having difficulty connecting

EMDR is an effective tool, often considered a form of “bottom -up” therapy (meaning an approach that isn’t focusing on our cognitive understanding) to help process difficult experiences and feelings of distress. As an EMDR Certified Therapist, I have many years of experience working with clients who have experienced some kind of trauma. Trauma therapy can help you to understand and manage your experiences and reactions.  Together, we can work to help you find yourself again, and stop feeling that your traumatic experience defines you.

Do you feel overwhelmed, like you are struggling to keep up with the demands of life?  Do you feel like you don’t have much left for yourself after you take care of everyone else’s needs?  Are you trying to be everyone to everybody?  Does your life look like you thought you wanted it to, but you find it just doesn’t feel right?  Are you trying, and failing, to be superwoman?

You aren’t alone. Many of us focus so much on taking care of others that we put our own needs on hold.  Unfortunately, that catches up with us and we can find ourselves struggling with sadness, discomfort, anxiety and frequent worries. As women, we may struggle with:

*feeling pressure to take care of others

*balancing work, family, romantic relationships, friendships, personal needs

*establishing healthy boundaries

*dealing with societal expectations and pressures

*dealing with past traumas or abuse

*our sexuality

*low self-esteem

*perfectionism

I have a special interest in working with and supporting other women in their healing journeys. Many women find it helpful to work with a therapist who understands their experiences in the context of their gender. Whether your interest in therapy is specifically related to women’s issues or not, it is valuable to work with someone with whom you feel comfortable, and who has a unique ability to relate to and understand you and your life experiences.