I’ll never get this right.

How does she have it all together?

I’m such a failure as a parent.

What if everyone finds out I don’t know what I’m doing?

I’m a total mess!

You don’t need to have a positive-optimistic-unicorns-and-rainbows view of the world, but how about one that is a little more realistic? When we have realistic thoughts instead of distorted ones, we feel better and are less paralyzed to make positive changes.

Therapy can help you rewrite the script, focus less on other people, and be more intentional and thoughtful about your choices. All of these will help you feel less overwhelmed, more in control, and better able to enjoy your day-to-day.

Many people come to therapy because of a relationship issue. Whether it's difficulty with a partner, family member, friend, or co-worker, relationships can have a dramatic effect on your mood. Sometimes it’s to get a relationship back on track, and other times it’s to decide whether to leave the relationship.

Here’s the bad news: You going to therapy won’t automatically make other people easier to get along with. I wish it could! Here’s the good news: By looking at your relationship and your role in it, you can make small changes in how you view the relationship and how you communicate what you want and need. Changing how you communicate CAN lead to changes in the other person’s behavior, your satisfaction with the relationship, and help you determine how much to invest in the relationship.

Therapy is an excellent way to figure out your role in the relationship and how to make positive changes. I can help you learn relationship skills that will help things change and get your needs met.

Sometimes a lack of motivation is a sign of depression and is accompanied by a change in appetite or sleep patterns, lack of energy, depressed mood, irritability, and not being able to enjoy anything. By identifying and addressing your depression, you can start doing those things you’ve put off. 

Sometimes feeling unmotivated is caused by other factors such as feeling overwhelmed, fear, anxiety, or prioritizing other things. We are most motivated to do the things that have an immediate positive or negative reaction. If you don’t put gas in your car, you will end up stranded by the side of the road, so it’s easier to motivate to do that than something with a less immediate consequence like work on a resume,  look for a new job, or reach out to someone you’ve lost touch with. 

Using motivational skills in therapy, we can look at what is making you want to change, what is the specific change you want to make, and what steps you can take TODAY to start making that happen.

If you do not identify with your assigned sex at birth, are questioning how you identify, or identify as transgender, you may be looking for a therapist who is familiar with gender identity issues.

Many people think that “transition” implies from one gender to another, but everyone’s journey is different, and my goal is to help you transition from whatever is causing you distress to being more authentically you.

I have extensive experience doing gender therapy and writing referral letters for gender affirming surgery, according to WPATH guidelines. In therapy, we can talk about your feelings, discuss how to manage your gender dysphoria, and explore what steps, if any, you might want to take to feel more comfortable in your body and your interactions with others.

You may be just beginning to consider your gender identity, or you may be preparing for gender affirming procedures. Wherever you are starting from, it helps to have someone to talk things out with in a supportive environment as you navigate the process.