How I Work

My style is analytical, grounded, and collaborative. I don’t simply “give advice,” nor do I sit silently and only nod. I pay attention — to the words you use, the emotions that show up in your body, and the patterns that connect your past to your present.

Some of the approaches that shape my work include:

Psychodynamic and Relational Therapy

We look at how your early relationships, family dynamics, and past experiences continue to shape what you expect from yourself and others today — often in ways you may not fully see yet. This is especially helpful for patterns that keep repeating in relationships, work, or self-talk.

Gestalt and Here-and-Now Awareness

Rather than only talking about events that happened long ago, we also pay attention to what unfolds in the present moment — including how you feel in the room (or on the screen) with me. This helps you build awareness of your needs, limits, and choices in real time.

Cognitive-Behavioral & Skills-Based Work

When it’s helpful, I also integrate structured, skills-oriented work — such as CBT- and DBT-informed tools — to support emotion regulation, communication, and coping in daily life. We might identify unhelpful thought patterns, experiment with new behaviors, or build routines that make life a little more manageable. These tools don’t replace deeper exploration, but they can make the day-to-day feel less overwhelming.

Analytical / Jungian-Informed Perspectives

At times, we may explore dreams, symbols, creativity, or “parts” of you that feel very different from each other. This can open up a deeper understanding of identity, meaning, and the roles you’ve been asked to play.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

We work on building a different relationship with painful thoughts and emotions, so they don’t control your entire life. Instead of fighting your inner world, we practice making room for it while still moving toward what truly matters to you.

Group and Community-Based Perspective

Much of my clinical experience has been in community mental health and group settings, where people heal not only one-on-one but also in connection with others. This perspective shapes how I think about your struggles: not as individual “defects,” but as understandable responses to family, cultural, and systemic forces. When appropriate, I may explore with you how group therapy, peer support, or community resources could complement our work.

What This Feels Like in Session

In practice, this can look like:

slowing down stories that you usually rush through and noticing the parts that are hardest to say;
tracking how your body reacts as you talk about certain people or memories;
gently challenging beliefs that keep you stuck (“If I’m not productive, I’m worthless”; “If I set boundaries, people will leave”);
exploring anger, grief, or fear that you’ve had to suppress to survive — especially within family or cultural expectations;
experimenting with new ways of relating: saying “no,” asking for help, or allowing yourself to be seen more fully.

calming but not numbing,
honest but not harsh,
and structured enough to feel safe while still allowing depth and complexity.

My goal is not to push you into quick changes, but to help you understand yourself so clearly that the changes you choose are genuinely yours.