PSYCHOTHERAPY

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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 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.

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.

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 approach therapy with 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 of all ages and older teens, offering support for 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 - but you will be treated as a client. I invite you to allow your "therapist hat" to rest and allow me to hold space for your own inner work.

• 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)
• 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 solely seek letter-writing services.

I work with adults and older teens (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/emotional neglect)
• 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 (primary caregiver inconsistencies/unpredictability, divorce, emotionally absent parents/partners, break-ups with significant others, betrayal)
• traits consistent with Borderline Personality Disorder and/or Narcissistic Personality Disorder

                   (this is relational/attachment/developmental trauma, so my approach is non- 

                   pathologizing/non-stigmatizing)

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

I 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 with great care. I will honor the knowledge base you have and try to not be redundant around topics of which you already have a solid concept while offering expanded perspectives and facilitating connection of concepts to inner growth/healing.

LGBTQIA+ affirming, competent, and experienced space! 

Enhancing self esteem

• reframe negative self-talk
• build a stronger sense of/relationship with self
• improve confidence
• learn to trust emotions and needs

Healthy relationships/cycle-breaking

• identify what might be contributing to relational patterns/conflict cycles
• understanding of key pillars to relational health
• explore your attachment style
• aid in relational rupture and repair
• explore your boundary style and move toward establishing healthier boundaries 
• enhance effective communication 
• understand safe/unsafe and healthy/unhealthy 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 the states of Illinois (LCSW 149.025630) and Washington (SWI.LW.61554715).

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.