Therapeutic Modalities

I draw from a range of evidence-based, relational, mindfulness-based, somatic, and depth-oriented approaches, tailoring the work to each person rather than relying on a single method or model.

Across these modalities, my work is trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and attentive to the social and structural contexts that shape our lives.

Somatic & Body-Based Therapy

There needs to be space for an experience to be felt before we move too quickly toward trying to change it. This means slowing down enough to notice what is happening not only in our thoughts and emotions, but also in the body—sensations, impulses, tension, movement, and shifts in the nervous system.

The nervous system is central to this work. Our bodies are continually responding to what feels safe, threatening, overwhelming, or supportive, often outside of conscious awareness. Paying attention to these responses can help us recognize when there is capacity to stay with something difficult, when we need more support or steadiness, and when something begins to shift.

My training in Somatic Experiencing® has depended this way of working. SE offers a gently, body-oriented approach for working with stress and trauma, helping us stay with difficult experiences in manageable amounts while also noticing what brings greater steadiness, connection, and ease.

Evidence-Based Therapy

Evidence-based therapies are approaches that have been studied through clinical research and shown to be effective for particular concerns. I am trained in several evidence-based practices: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and EMDR.

Research provides a foundation, but therapy is not one-size-fits-all. I draw form these approaches flexibly.

**Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)**

CBT explores the relationship between our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and how each can influence the others. It is an active and practical approach that can help us recognize unhelpful patterns and experiment with new ways of thinking and responding.

**Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) & Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)**

DBT and ACT are often described as “third wave” behavioral therapies. Rather than focusing only on changing thoughts and behaviors, both approaches also emphasize changing how we relate to difficult thoughts, emotions, and experiences.
Mindfulness is central to both approaches. DBT offers practical skills for navigating intense emotions, tolerating distress, and responding effectively, while ACT emphasizes making space for difficult experiences while moving toward what matters and living in greater alignment with your values.

**Mindfulness and Compassion Focused Approach**

Paying attention to the sensations of the body, the tides of our emotions, and the chatter of the mind with compassion and kindness can be a powerful healing practice. Mindfulness and compassion- focused approaches cultivate our capacity to weather difficult times and savor the joyful moments of life. These practices can help us make space for our emotions and meet our experience with greater awareness and self-compassion.

Working with Trauma & Chronic Stress

Trauma and accumulated stress can leave us feeling stuck in patterns that are difficult to shift or unsure how to move forward. Experiences that overwhelm our capacity can continue to affect us long after they have passed, shaping how we feel, respond, and inhabit our bodies.

My approach to trauma is informed by an understanding that these experiences can be developmental, relational, systemic, or connected to specific events. I am trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which I integrate with somatic and mindfulness-based approaches.