PSYCHOTHERAPY

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Welcome! I’m glad you’re here and taking a moment to learn about what therapy with me might feel like. My approach goes beyond simply teaching coping skills; though coping skills can be life-saving, most clients I work with are wanting to engage deeper level work. Together, we work toward transforming the way you relate to yourself and others, creating a more compassionate inner world and lightening the weight of past trauma. My hope for all of my clients is lasting healing, not just quick fixes that leave you yearning for more depth of discovery.

My primary clinical focus is supporting clients who have experienced navigating challenges with self-concept - experiences such as self-worth, self-esteem, identity, and the relationship you have with yourself - as well as difficulties in relationships with others. My process allows for the process of rediscovering who you are after trauma (developmental, sexual, relational, and beyond).

Many of the people I work with come to therapy because they notice patterns in their relationships or behaviors they want to shift, experience struggles with self-esteem, or feel “stuck” in certain areas of life. I often work with those who identify as people-pleasers, empaths, or highly sensitive persons (HSPs), and who may find it challenging to recognize or express their needs and emotions in relationships.

I approach therapy with inclusivity, curiosity, and respect for each person’s uniqueness. I aim to help you reduce inner conflict, heal emotional wounds, and move toward your most authentic self.

I work with adults: individuals, couples, and families.

For therapists seeking their own therapy: a significant portion of my practice is dedicated to working with fellow mental health professionals. You’ll find this is a space where your expertise is respected and you’re welcomed as both a knowledgeable professional and a human being deserving of care.

• attachment-focused, trauma-informed, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
• family systems, including the acknowledgement of intergenerational trauma
• psychodynamic (how the past impacts the present)
• Internal Family Systems (IFS) /parts work, Eye Movement and Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), with traces of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT/DBT)
• bibliotherapy - yes we can integrate books, literature, and other published works into therapy sessions

*I am not accepting clients who seek letter-writing services.

I work with adults (plus their family members/partners) who experience:

• anxiety
• low self-esteem, negative self-talk, lack of confidence, "people-pleasing"
• HSPs/empaths
• childhood trauma (physical/emotional/sexual abuse)
• challenges in understanding gender identity/sexual orientation and/or those who are transitioning/coming out
• neurodivergence: ADHD, Autism, OCD, misophonia, unmasking, late diagnosis, and more
• relational/attachment trauma (changes in caregivers, divorce, emotionally absent parents, break-ups with significant others, betrayal)
• traits consistent with Borderline Personality Disorder 

                      (this is relational/attachment/developmental trauma)

• sleep disturbances/insomnia
• those who experience challenges with family relationships/social pressures 

I also have extensive experience working with other therapists. I treat therapists like I would any other client and you will never hear me say "what would you tell a client to do?" You are a whole person and will be treated as such. No need to wear your therapist hat into session - although I will honor the knowledge base you have and try to not be redundant. 

LGBTQIA+ affirming, competent, and experienced space! 

Enhancing self esteem

• correct negative self-talk
• build a stronger sense of/relationship with self
• improve confidence

Healthy relationships/cycle-breaking

• identify key pillars of relational health
• explore your attachment style and repair
• explore your boundary style and move toward establishing healthier boundaries 
• enhance effective communication 
• understand safe/unsafe relationships

Family functionality and parenting support

• help family members understand needs behind behaviors
• effective behavior management strategies
• communication, boundaries, and building healthy relationships that last across the lifespan
• explore family values 

Also, let's consider how neurodivergence (ND) might manifest in your world, possibly impacting mental health, well-being, and overall function. ND affirming and competent. 

Ky (they/them) earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications at California State University, Bakersfield and a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Boston University. Ky holds independent licensure in Illinois (LCSW 149.025630).

Ky completed an advanced clinical practicum in a sexual trauma specialty program. Through this program, Ky worked extensively with clients who had experienced severe relational, developmental, and sexual trauma. Working through psychodynamic, attachment/relational, and trauma-informed approaches, Ky conceptualizes relational challenges through a trauma-informed lens allowing for intergenerational healing to occur. 

Ky's areas of specialization include attachment and relational/developmental complex trauma, which lends well to parenting and family systems work.