How We Work

Coffee, a journal, and a pen on a warm wooden table.

How we work

Understand what keeps happening. Practice something different.

CBT: catch the automatic reaction

An argument happens, you assume the worst, and you react before you’ve had a chance to think. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps us slow that sequence down. We look at the thoughts and habits keeping it going, check whether your assumptions fit the facts, and practice another response.

That might mean having the conversation you’ve been avoiding, setting a boundary, or taking one manageable step instead of waiting to feel completely ready.

ACT: move toward what matters

Trying to get rid of every uncomfortable feeling can become a full-time job. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) helps you make room for grief, anxiety, or uncertainty while choosing what you want to do next. Acceptance doesn’t mean approval or pretending something didn’t hurt.

We get clear about what matters to you, then work toward it. You can be anxious and have an honest conversation. You can be grieving and begin to reconnect with life. The feeling doesn’t have to disappear before you take a meaningful step.

Motivational interviewing: find your own reasons for change

You can want change and still have good reasons to hesitate. We talk through both sides, including what staying the same is costing you and what changing might ask of you. My job is to help you find your own reasons and a next step you can stand behind.

Trauma-informed, at your pace

My trauma certification and experience in crisis care and trauma service leadership shape how I work. We pay attention to what feels safe, what overwhelms you, and what helps you stay present. You have a say in the pace.

You don’t have to tell the whole story before you’re ready.

In couples work, we also use Gottman-informed tools to notice recurring conflict, communicate needs, and practice repair. In individual therapy, we connect patterns with your history and everyday relationships. Executive coaching focuses on leadership and professional goals; it is a separate service from mental health treatment.