There is no injury-proof relationship, but you can dance together with more verve if you know you can discover when you step on each other’s toes. – Sue Johnson
I understand that it can be a little unnerving to start therapy; particularly with someone you don’t know. I think everyone feels that way initially, but I will do my best to set you at ease and to help you feel comfortable. The only assumption I make when we start is that the status quo isn’t working and you are looking to make a change – even if you aren’t sure what that change might be. And we’ll take it from there.
I want to get to know you and will strive to understand your unique perspective and what makes you tick. I’m curious about what shapes your story and how patterns are played out in your relationships with loved ones. Whether positive or painful, the patterns that we experienced growing up are often repeated in subsequent relationships with our partners, children, co-workers and within ourselves. And before we know it, history repeats itself in ways we didn’t intend.
One thing you should know about me is, that like you, I’ve had to navigate the challenges that resulted from my own relationships as a wife, a parent and a daughter. I know first hand just how complicated and fantastic it can all be! But what I’ve learned is that when you do the inner work of asking the tough questions and changing the ‘steps of your relationship dance’, you will come through the other end. And most certainly, you will find the inner resources to carry you forward.
While my experiences may be quite different than yours, they have grounded me with compassion and empathy for the issues you may bring to therapy. My goal is that each session offers clients a safe place to take a risk and to speak from the heart. I have witnessed tremendous healing and change in family therapy as parents and teens shared their struggles as they open up their dialogue. And I have sat in awe as couples create a deeper connection with one another by learning how to express their deepest emotions and fears. Therapy can provide an opportunity for powerful healing when clients are committed to the process and I will do my best to support you every step of the way.
Much of successful therapy is finding the right fit between a client and therapist. I don’t have all the answers and my goal is not to “fix” you, but I will accompany you with an open heart and help to light the path towards your therapy goals. I look forward to the opportunity to connecting with you!
My Background
I am a licensed professional counselor with my Masters of Science in Counseling from Southern Methodist Universityin Dallas, TX, and a graduate of McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. I received advanced practical training in emotionally focused therapy for couples and families at UT Southwestern, where I spent five years in the Department of Psychiatry’s Family Studies Clinic working with diverse clients of all ages. In addition, I completed a post-graduate externship in Emotionally Focused Therapy and have advanced training in EFT in couples with trauma. I am a contributing author to Case Studies in Couple and Family Therapy and hold memberships in the Texas Association of Marriage and Family Therapy and the International Center for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy. In my previous life, I enjoyed a successful career in corporate marketing, communications, and business development. And as a wife and mother, I’ve had my own share of the challenges that marriage, divorce, and raising children can present!
While the holidays are happy times for many families, they can also present opportunities for tension and conflict. The annoying sibling, the relative who drinks
Those experiences and those from former relationships shape the expectations and assumptions we make in our primary relationships with our partners. You may recognize those patterns as they are played out from one generation to another.
I think we are less tolerant of men expressing emotions; not being allowed to feel fear, failure or vulnerability. As women, we can feel locked out when they won’t “share” their feelings when truthfully many men don’t know how or don’t talk the same language. This is where therapy can help.
