Welcome, I’m so glad you’re here! Thank you for taking a moment to learn about what therapy with me might feel like. Many of the people I work with come to therapy because they notice patterns within 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. All of these attributes can manifest as anxiety and depression - sometimes debilitatingly so.
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 challenges in relationship with others. My process allows for the process of rediscovering who you are after trauma (developmental, sexual, relational, and beyond) and building a solid sense of self. At times, some people experience really intense self-criticism cycles where ruminating, negative thoughts about ourselves can result in a debilitating level of anxiety. The good news is that there is a way to quiet the internal harshness we can experience and alleviate the intensity of suffering.
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 sustained healing, not just quick fixes that leave you yearning for more depth.
I don't want to teach you how to carry the weight of your past. I seek to help you heal and unburden your NERVOUS SYSTEM - so that you are carrying less. We will move BEYOND coping and into sustainable healing.
Ky: A Therapist's Bio
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 the states of Illinois (LCSW 149.025630), Washington (SWI.LW.61554715), and Oregon (LCSW L18509).
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. More recently, Ky has taken a special interest in the areas of intense anxiety and OCD.
Ky's areas of specialization include attachment and relational/developmental complex trauma, which lends well to parenting and family systems work.
In their personal time, Ky spends the bulk of their time outdoors hiking, camping, and sinking into backcountry solitude from their van - balancing that time with live music events and being in queer community. Staring at the night sky, spending time near bodies of water, and consuming copious amounts of music provide the balance Ky needs to feel regulated and experience aliveness.
