Many of my clients come to therapy feeling conflicted - everything looks good on paper, yet something inside feels misaligned. in truth, unresolved trauma can make even fulfillment feel fleeting. Trauma has a way to sneak into your everyday life causing confusion, self-esteem issues, and many other symptoms that you may not be prepared to handle. If this resonates with you, then you're in the right place.

I am a Gottman Couples Therapist which means I use an evidenced base method to help intimate partners to reconnect through shared meaning, conflict management, and love maps (knowing each other's inner world). 

I am an expert in treating Interpersonal Violence within same-sex relationships. I prioritize safety and stabilization within the relationship as well as trauma informed care for the partner being abused. This can be done either individually or conjointly (only if the abuser has gotten help for their behavior). Identifying the "red flags" and the patterns of abuse in any relationship is an important factor in the treatment of IPV.

When working with same-sex couples, the following themes often require specialized attention:

• Minority Stress & Internalized Homophobia: Addressing how external societal stigma (discrimination, lack of family support) is internalized and manifests as conflict or distance within the relationship.

• Outness Disparity: Navigating the tension that arises when one partner is "out" in all areas of life while the other remains closeted in certain environments (e.g., work or family).

• Gender Role Socialization: In the absence of traditional "husband/wife" scripts, same-sex couples must consciously negotiate domestic roles, financial management, and emotional labor.

• Family of Origin Dynamics: Exploring the impact of "chosen family" versus biological family, especially if there has been rejection or conditional acceptance from the couple's parents. I use Attachment Theory and an adapted form of Gottman Couples Therapy to achieve the outcomes/goals the couple desires.

In trauma-focused therapy, processing the past is not about reliving the pain, but rather about reorganizing how that memory is stored in the brain so it no longer dictates your current reality. As a Certified Trauma Professional and EMDR Practitioner, I utilize this phased approach to help clients move from "victim" to "survivor". Whether the memory is repressed or a constant memory, we can work together by using EMDR and TF-CBT to deactivate the emotional response to that memory.