My Approach

As your therapist my role is to guide you in unraveling the intricate patterns, beliefs, narratives, internal strife, and deep-seated psychological frameworks—known as schemas, or recurring thought patterns that shape your world view—that hinder your path to a unified and empowered self. By engaging in relational psychotherapy/psychoanalysis and applying an Internal Family Systems (IFS) approach, our partnership aims to foster profound self-awareness and innovative strategies for healing past traumas, enhancing presence, and mastering the art of self-relation and interpersonal dynamics. As you redefine your identity and experiment with novel approaches within the secure bounds of our therapeutic alliance, you may witness the emergence of a more genuine and adept version of yourself. This transformation paves the way to a life of greater fulfillment—the life you aspire to lead.

I am trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS, Level 1) through the IFS Institute; Radically Open Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (RO-DBT, Level 1) from the Radically Open Institute; and Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) trained via Rick Levinson, LCSW. Further, I regularly read continuing education materials and attend trainings pertaining to relational psychoanalysis, psychoanalytic and psychodynamic psychotherapy. I am currently a Board Member with Austin Psychoanalytic.

What is Relational Psychotherapy/Psychoanalysis?

At our core, we are relational beings. Our earliest connections shape our worldviews, influence our interactions, and impact our mental health. Relational psychoanalysis is a transformative approach that explores these profound connections. It delves into how your relationships, past and present, influence your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.

Relational psychoanalysis is not just a therapy; it's a journey into understanding the self through the lens of relationships. It acknowledges that our interactions with others are fundamental to shaping who we are. This approach focuses on the therapeutic relationship as a dynamic space to explore and understand these relational patterns, providing insight into how they affect your current mental well-being.

How Relational Psychotherapy Assists in Healing?

Deepen Self-Understanding: Uncover the subtle ways your past relationships influence your present, helping you understand the 'why' behind your feelings and behaviors.
Transform Relationships: Gain insights into your relational patterns, empowering you to forge more meaningful and satisfying connections with others.
Heal Emotional Wounds: In the safety of the therapeutic relationship, explore and heal from past relational hurts, leading to emotional growth and resilience.
Live More Authentically: By understanding your relational dynamics, embrace a more authentic way of being, leading to a life that feels more genuinely yours.

WHAT IS INTERNAL FAMILY SYSTEMS (IFS)?

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is an innovative model of psychotherapy developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz. It recognizes and addresses the multiple sub-personalities or families within each individual, which we refer to as "parts." Each part has its own unique perspective, feelings, memories, and viewpoint. IFS helps to heal wounded parts and bring them into a harmonious internal system where they can be productive and healthy members of the internal family.

How IFS Assists in Healing

Self-Discovery: IFS encourages you to explore and understand the diverse parts of your psyche, fostering profound self-knowledge and acceptance.
Healing Trauma: By recognizing and addressing the wounded parts of your psyche, IFS provides a path to healing deep-seated traumas and emotional injuries.
Enhancing Relationships: As you understand yourself better, you also improve your interpersonal relationships, bringing more compassion and understanding to interactions with others.
Emotional Balance: IFS helps in managing and balancing emotions by recognizing and negotiating with extreme parts that carry burdens of pain or extreme beliefs.
Empowerment: Central to IFS is the concept of the Self. The Self is your core essence, characterized by qualities such as confidence, clarity, compassion, and calmness. IFS helps to lead from the Self, making you feel more empowered and whole.