I use proven therapeutic methods that have been extensively researched and shown to be effective for a wide range of mental health concerns. Our approach is personalized—we'll work together to determine which therapeutic modalities best fit your specific situation, goals, and preferences.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR is a specialized therapy designed to help your brain process traumatic memories and reduce their emotional impact. During EMDR sessions, you'll recall specific memories while engaging in bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements), which helps your brain reprocess the traumatic material naturally.

EMDR is particularly effective for:

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and trauma recovery
• Anxiety and panic disorders
• Depression related to past experiences
• Disturbing memories that continue to impact daily life
• Negative self-beliefs stemming from difficult experiences

Advanced EMDR techniques we use:

• Flash Technique - Reduces the emotional intensity of traumatic memories before full processing, making treatment more comfortable
• Resource Installation - Builds positive internal resources and strengths to support healing
• Recent Traumatic Event Protocol - Specialized approach for processing recent trauma

EMDR often works more quickly than traditional talk therapy and can provide lasting relief from trauma symptoms.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT focuses on the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This practical, goal-oriented approach helps you identify unhelpful thinking patterns and develop more balanced perspectives and effective coping strategies.

CBT is effective for:

• Anxiety disorders and panic attacks
• Depression and mood difficulties
• Stress management and chronic worry
• Self-esteem and confidence issues
• Anger management
• Sleep difficulties

What CBT involves:

• Identifying negative thought patterns and cognitive distortions
• Learning practical coping skills and problem-solving strategies
• Behavioral experiments to test unhelpful beliefs
• Homework exercises to practice new skills between sessions
• Developing relapse prevention strategies

CBT is typically shorter-term and provides concrete tools you can use independently after therapy ends.

Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT)

EFT helps you understand and work with your emotions in healthy ways. This approach recognizes that emotions provide important information and that learning to identify, experience, and express emotions effectively is crucial for mental health and relationship satisfaction.

EFT is beneficial for:

• Relationship and communication difficulties
• Emotional regulation challenges
• Depression and anxiety
• Self-esteem and identity issues
• Grief and loss processing
• Trauma recovery

EFT principles:

• Emotions are adaptive and provide valuable information
• Awareness and acceptance of emotions leads to positive change
• Creating new emotional experiences in therapy promotes healing
• Developing emotional intelligence and regulation skills

In individual therapy, EFT helps you develop a healthier relationship with your emotions. In couples therapy, EFT helps partners understand each other's emotional needs and create deeper connection.

Integrative Approach

Rather than using a single therapeutic method, we often combine approaches to best meet your individual needs. For example:

• CBT + EMDR for trauma with accompanying anxiety or depression
• EFT + CBT for relationship issues involving negative thinking patterns
• EMDR + EFT for processing trauma while building emotional regulation skills

Your therapeutic journey:

During our initial sessions, we'll discuss your concerns, goals, and preferences to determine which therapeutic approaches are most likely to help. We'll explain how each method works and involve you in decisions about your treatment plan.

Therapy is collaborative—you're the expert on your own experience, and we'll work together to find the approaches that feel most helpful and comfortable for you. We can adjust our methods as needed based on your progress and feedback.

What to expect:

All of our therapeutic approaches are:

• Evidence-based - Supported by research and proven effective
• Client-centered - Tailored to your specific needs and goals
• Collaborative - You're an active participant in your healing process
• Respectful - Your experiences, values, and pace are honored
• Flexible - We adapt our approach based on what works best for you

Whether you're dealing with trauma, relationship challenges, anxiety, depression, or other concerns, we have the training and experience to help you heal, grow, and thrive using the therapeutic methods best suited to your situation.

Therapeutic Modalities for Couples

Gottman Method Couples Therapy

Evidence-Based Relationship Healing

The Gottman Method is a research-based approach to couples therapy developed by Drs. John and Julie Gottman through decades of studying what makes relationships succeed or fail. This method focuses on three core principles: building love maps (deep knowledge of your partner), nurturing fondness and admiration, and turning toward each other during everyday moments.

What makes the Gottman Method effective?

The Gottman Method addresses the "Four Horsemen" of relationship destruction—criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling—while building positive interaction patterns that strengthen your bond. This approach helps couples:

• Improve Communication: Learn to express needs and concerns without blame or defensiveness
• Build Emotional Connection: Develop deeper understanding and empathy for each other
• Manage Conflict Effectively: Navigate disagreements in ways that bring you closer rather than drive you apart
• Create Shared Meaning: Build common goals, dreams, and values that unite your partnership
• Strengthen Friendship: Rediscover the friendship foundation that supports lasting love

What can you expect in Gottman Method sessions?

I use structured interventions and practical exercises that help you practice new skills both in session and at home. You'll learn specific tools for:

• Starting difficult conversations without triggering defensiveness
• Making repair attempts during conflicts
• Building appreciation and gratitude practices
• Creating rituals of connection in your daily life
• Strengthening your emotional and physical intimacy

EMDR for Couples

Healing Relationship Trauma Together

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) for Couples addresses how individual and relational trauma can create barriers to intimacy and trust. When past experiences—whether from childhood, previous relationships, or shared traumatic events—interfere with your current relationship, EMDR helps process these experiences so they no longer control your present interactions.

How does trauma affect relationships?

Trauma can manifest in relationships through:

• Trust Issues: Difficulty believing in your partner's love or commitment
• Emotional Triggers: Overreacting to situations that remind you of past hurts
• Intimacy Barriers: Physical or emotional walls that prevent closeness
• Communication Shutdown: Withdrawing or becoming defensive when triggered
• Betrayal Recovery: Healing from infidelity or broken promises
• Attachment Wounds: Difficulty feeling secure and connected with your partner

What is EMDR for Couples?

EMDR for Couples combines traditional EMDR trauma processing with couples therapy techniques. This approach helps both partners:

• Process Individual Trauma: Address personal histories that affect the relationship
• Heal Relational Wounds: Work through betrayals, conflicts, or shared traumatic experiences
• Develop Co-Regulation: Learn to support each other's nervous system during stress
• Build Secure Attachment: Create new patterns of safety and connection
• Integrate Healing: Apply trauma recovery insights to strengthen your relationship

What happens during EMDR for Couples sessions?

I guide you through a process that may include individual EMDR processing while your partner provides support, joint sessions where you both process related experiences, and integration work that helps you apply healing insights to your relationship dynamics. This approach ensures that trauma healing strengthens rather than disrupts your partnership.

Integrating Both Approaches

Comprehensive Relationship Healing

Many couples benefit from combining Gottman Method skills with EMDR trauma processing. The Gottman Method provides practical tools for daily relationship management, while EMDR addresses deeper emotional wounds that may sabotage your efforts to connect. Together, these approaches offer:

• Surface and Deep Healing: Addressing both day-to-day interactions and underlying trauma
• Skill Building and Emotional Processing: Learning new behaviors while healing old wounds
• Present-Focused and Past-Informed: Building your future while resolving your history
• Individual and Relational Growth: Supporting personal healing within the context of your partnership

This integrated approach recognizes that lasting relationship change often requires both practical skills and emotional healing, creating a comprehensive path toward the intimate, trusting partnership you both desire.