ADHD

ADHD is not a personal failing, and yet it can touch just about every domain of life. Sometimes it’s big things like focus or emotion regulation, but day to day struggles with things like avoidance and punctuality can really take a hit on your self esteem.

With a deep understanding of the neurodevelopmental impact of ADHD, I can help you replace self-criticism with self-compassion, and to embrace your unique ways of thinking.

At the same time, practical strategies to decrease behaviors like avoidance, procrastination and impulsivity are introduced to help minimize negative impacts of ADHD on daily life. With a balanced approach of acceptance and skill-building, I can help you take active steps toward managing ADHD symptoms in a healthy, sustainable way.

Anxiety

Many people with anxiety are chronic “what if-ers.” What if I never find the right partner? What if I say something awkward at happy hour, and now my boss is mad at me? CBT can help you identify and reframe your thoughts about what might happen, allowing you to enjoy the present moment without fixating on what may or may not happen in the future.

In addition to generalized or situational anxiety, I have experience working with people suffering from panic attacks, social anxiety, perfectionism, or specific phobias.

OCD

Intrusive, scary thoughts sometimes float into all of our brains for no reason. Ideally, you would just think, “huh, what a weird thought,” and move on. However, if you struggle with OCD these thoughts can feel intolerable and lead to rumination, avoidance, reassurance seeking, and checking behaviors.
Luckily, OCD is very treatable with an evidence-based treatment called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). You know how a pool feels freezing when you first jump in, but eventually you get used to it? ERP works similarly. By initially facing the situations that spark obsessions within a safe environment in small and gradual ways, fears will become less overwhelming.

Interpersonal relationships

Our relationships have a huge influence on our overall mood and self-esteem. While many people may focus primarily on romantic relationships, those with your boss, roommate or sister can also be equally demanding. Therapy can help with both the goal of cultivating more meaningful relationships, as well as changing how how you show up in existing ones.

Whether you’re the type who tends to impulsively fly off the handle, or whether the idea of confrontation makes you break out in hives, I can help you learn to slow down and make proactive, rather than reactive decisions about how you want to define and manage your relationships.

Life transitions

Some transitions come into our lives whether we feel ready or not. Events like job losses, break ups, or world altering pandemics can require grieving what you thought your life might look like, and reorienting yourself to figure out where to go from here. Other transitions might be ones you not only planned, but pined for—things like going to college, a new relationship, moving cities or becoming a parent. Now that you got what you wanted, you feel like you should be grateful, but instead you’re riddled with anxiety. 

I can help you process disappointment, learn new coping skills, and set new routines and expectations so that you are able to move forward productively. 

Depression

Depression shows up in multiple ways. Sometimes it can look like withdrawing from activities or a change in functioning, while others appear totally functional from the outside. Either way, depression can leave you feeling drained by usually enjoyable activities and generally feeling helpless.

Depression often robs people of the hope that things can feel better, but starting Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can be a great first step. Most people notice that as they work on changing previously rigid thought patterns and develop new coping skills, their mood and ability to feel hopeful about the future shifts as well.

Couples

Many people looking for a relationship tell me that finding a good partner would fix all their problems, only to realize that finding a partner is only the first step in creating a lasting healthy relationship.

Building a life with a partner who has differing life experiences, emotional responses, and needs can lead to tension, arguing or resentment in your relationship. It is helpful to have an objective person mediate your discussions, provide tools to get through difficult periods, and teach you ways to communicate more effectively.