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    Therapy: Take Your Next Courageous Step Forward

    Are you struggling to cope with stress or adjust to a major life change?

    Do you think you may be suffering from depression, anxiety, or the effects of a traumatic experience?

    Or have you been dealing with disability-related obstacles (e.g., recent physical changes or limitations, discrimination, lost or missed opportunities)?

    Do you live in Florida or Hawaii and prefer the accessibility and convenience of online therapy?

    And are you motivated to be an active part of your therapy and ready to move forward on your path to wellness?

    If so, you have come to the right place!

    I help adults with stress/transition, anxiety, depression, trauma, and ability-related problems. I offer a warm, supportive, and confidential virtual space for your comfort and security as you share your experiences. My treatment approach is solution-focused, strengths-oriented, culturally-sensitive, and trauma-informed. I use evidence-supported therapies and am flexible in my work; I use a wide range of proven interventions for us to personalize our sessions to your specific needs and goals. 

    Please see below and follow links for additional information about my services. If you feel we’d be a good fit, let’s schedule your free consultation and discuss your goals for therapy, answer any questions you may have, and share how I can help. I hope to join you on your courageous journey forward!

    Therapy for Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Trauma/PTSD, and (Dis)Ability in Florida and Hawaii

    Stress Management

    Are you feeling overwhelmed lately, like there’s just way too much “on your plate” and not enough time in the day to get it all done?

    Have you been dealing with difficult loss in your personal or professional/academic life, and it’s been tough coping and moving forward?

    Are you going through a lot of change recently, adjusting to a new relationship, move, school, and/or job and, even if it’s good change, you’re still feeling exhausted and out of control?

    We experience many stressful situations and changes in our lives. Some happen or build up slowly over time and others occur suddenly and unexpected. These circumstances, even the positive ones, can be very stressful and affect us negatively in many ways, physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, academically, professionally, and socially.

    However, even though life’s challenges and changes are unavoidable, how we experience them is in our control, and I’m here to help you cope and feel less stress, despite what’s happening…

    Anxiety Treatment

    Is worry or overthinking affecting your sleep or focus and getting in the way of your responsibilities at work, school, or home?

    Does fear keep you from connecting with others, making decisions, or going places and doing things you want or need to do?

    Are your experiencing unmanageable and medically unexplained nervousness, irritability, restlessness, tension, panic, pounding heart, difficulties breathing, excessive sweating, or trembling?

    Maybe you avoid or procrastinate to feel better in the moment only to find it’s making you feel and do worse in the long-run.

    Are you drinking too much, using drugs, or doing other unhealthy activities to avoid, feel better, and get things done?

    If your thoughts, emotions, or actions feel out of control, and you’re unable to relax and more fully enjoy life, you may be experiencing anxiety, and I’m here to help…

    Depression Therapy

    Have you been feeling sad, hopeless, irritable, or isolated?

    Do you have troubles eating, sleeping, or focusing too?

    Maybe you’re also having other, medically unexplained, physical problems like aches and pains or sexual desire/performance issues?

    Are you feeling tired, exhausted, unmotivated, or unable to take care of your personal, school, or professional responsibilities or commitments?

    Have you been using alcohol or drugs to try to feel better and take care of your things?

    Do you manage to get things done, not feeling sad but feeling blah and not enjoying life like you could or used to?

    Maybe you’re also noticing negative, often painful intrusive thoughts?

    If so to some of these, you may be experiencing depression. Please know you’re not alone…

    Navigating (Dis)Ability

    Are you or is someone you know or care for experiencing impairment or (dis)ability-related challenges?

    Maybe you’re adjusting or helping someone adjust to physical changes or limitations?

    Or maybe you’re dealing with or witnessing discrimination or unfair treatment, due to an ability difference, that’s getting in the way of fully living and enjoying life.

    Are you seeking support to advocate for yourself in meaningful ways?

    Or maybe you’re searching for support as a caregiver to manage the stress of caring for someone, a loved one, with a disability?

    Could you use a warm and safe space to sort through you thoughts and feelings and explore what you want and need?

    If you are looking for help navigating (dis)ability-related issues, including social and institutional obstacles limiting resources, supports, and opportunities, I’m here to support you… 

    Trauma/PTSD Treatment

    Have you been experiencing stressful intrusive thoughts or nightmares about something that happened to you or you witnessed? Does it feel like you’re reliving what happened over and over again?

    Do these memories and other reminders leave you feeling nervous, afraid, sad, or numb and keep you from doing what you enjoy or need to do?

    If so, you may be experiencing post-traumatic stress.

    Unfortunately, most of us will experience trauma at some point in our lives. It may be from an accident, abusive relationship, or assault. Or it may be from war, natural disaster, or sudden loss/death of a loved one.

    While many of us recover from trauma over time with the support of family, friends, and community, many others have longer-lasting effects. They may have deep emotional pain, fear, confusion, or stress long after the event has passed.

    If you or someone you know is experiencing posttraumatic stress, please know…

    Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

    Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a therapeutic approach that grew out of traditional Behavioral Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. However, it’s distinct from these and most other traditional Western approaches.

    ACT emphasizes acceptance rather than challenge to deal with negative thoughts, feelings, and situations. It was developed by psychologist Steven C. Hayes who stated the following in a Psychology Today post to describe ACT:

    We as a culture seem to be dedicated to the idea that ‘negative’ human emotions need to be fixed, managed, or changed-not experienced as part of a whole life. We are treating our own lives as problems to be solved as if we can sort through our experiences for the ones we like and throw out the rest. Acceptance, mindfulness, and values are key psychological tools needed for that transformative shift.

    Does this statement resonate for you? If so…

    Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

    Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a short-term, problem-focused, and present-oriented therapy that helps you to understand the connections between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

    CBT is based on the concept that your perception of events, not the actual events, determines how you feel and act or react in response. Your perceptions are influenced by your core beliefs, which formed in childhood. They’re also influenced by your dysfunctional assumptions, your human tendency to focus on the negative, and automatic negative thoughts which have become habit.

    According to CBT, mental health issues develop and continue through irrational or inaccurate thinking patterns and unhelpful learned behaviors. And, so, mental health issues may be reduced or eliminated by modifying those faulty, inaccurate thoughts and unhelpful, counter-productive actions.

    If you think CBT may be right for you…

    Mindfulness-Based Therapy

    Mindfulness-Based Therapy (MBT), or Mindfulness Therapy, is a type of therapy used to treat unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors that cause or worsen problems. It does this by teaching you to become more aware of your thoughts, feelings, surroundings, and situations. With greater awareness of yourself and the world around you, you learn how to avoid destructive, automatic reactions or habits.

    MBT is in contrast to many traditional therapies that take a challenging approach to unhelpful thoughts, feelings, and circumstances. It is a core component of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT; see above) and is often used in combination with other therapies.

    There are different types of MBT, including Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Therapy (MBSR). MBCT focuses on intrusive problematic thinking that gets in the way, and MBSR incorporates stress management techniques with mindfulness practices.

    If this approach is of interest to you…

    Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

    Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), also known as Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) is a short-term, goal-directed, and present and future-oriented therapy that instills hope, promotes change, and offers relief from your very first session. It begins with identifying your goal(s), creating a clear detailed vision of when the issue that brought you to therapy is gone or no longer a problem. Then, collaboratively, we move forward on the path toward achieving your goal(s).

    SFBT is client-centered, strengths-based, and culturally sensitive. It highlights your unique experiences, beliefs, and emotions, expands on your existing resiliencies and resources, and focuses on your goals throughout therapy.

     

    SFBT is based on the belief that you are the expert in your own live, that you already have the necessary abilities to help you solve your problems.

    Does SFBT sound like a good fit for you…

    Online Therapy

    Are you a busy student, stay-at-home parent, or professional and don’t have the time to travel to in-person therapy?

    Maybe you live in a rural area or have accessibility challenges due to limited transportation or mobility?

    Or maybe you just enjoy the convenience of online services?

    If so, you’re in the right place!

    I am certified in telehealth by the Telebehavioral Health Institute Advanced Practice (2020). 

    Online therapy allows clients and therapists to meet via live video conferencing. This can be done anywhere you have a smartphone or computer and a safe and confidential place to talk.

    And online therapy has shown to be as effective as traditional in-person therapy, more so if…

    Are you ready to get started?