"Healing is not by rote or ritual, it’s by presence and attunement."

David Grand

My diverse background includes strength-based multi-systemic therapeutic social services, ADHD coaching, sexual assault advocacy and support, reintegrating young people from in-patient settings, stabilizing families in crisis, mental health crisis response, juvenile justice system support, school district leadership in social emotional education, school-based interventions, 504s/IEPs, college/career preparation and training various organizations on neurodiversity-affirmative care.

Like many therapists, I am trained in a broad scope of practices, but lean more heavily into specific modalities. I see the value in teaching skills through behavioral therapy, but I've found that somatic approaches like synergetic play therapy, brainspotting, and other non-directive person-centered approaches are often more effective in helping clients connect to deeper levels of healing and nervous system regulation.

Having the tools and understanding is fantastic, but if we can’t successfully access those tools in a moment of dysregulation they add no value.  It’s like having a well-stocked toolbox that locks when we're stressed, and we don't have a key.

This is why somatic body-based work that directly targets the nervous system is so important (Brainspotting and Synergetic Play Therapy are particularly effective somatic modalities for kids).  When you work directly with the deep brain and nervous system, you have access to all the tools in your toolbox and can use them with ease — and often without having to think much about it.  It's the therapeutic equivalent of building muscle memory while learning to ride a bike.

I strongly believe in giving my clients agency in their therapeutic relationship.  Many of the most impactful and long-lasting therapeutic interventions are non-directive, in that the therapist supports the client in their own ability to heal and grow.

My therapeutic orientation is influenced by my training in:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy
• Person-centered brief therapy
• Motivational Interviewing
• Person-centered talk therapy
• Synergetic Play Therapy
• Brainspotting
• Internal Family Systems
• Crisis response & intervention
• Social Emotional Psychoeducation
• Positive Assessment Support & Training (PAST) certification with Laura Kerbey