Without the therapeutic relationship (trust, safety, rapport, empathy and connection), not much else can get done! Client centered therapy focuses on the therapeutic relationship. Relational therapy emphasizes the importance of relationships—both past and present—in shaping a person’s emotional well-being, identity, and psychological struggles. It grows out of relational psychoanalysis, attachment theory, and interpersonal approaches, and is based on the idea that humans are fundamentally social and that our sense of self is created and maintained through connection with others.

EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a type of psychotherapy used mainly to help people heal from trauma. Instead of just talking about painful memories, EMDR helps the brain reprocess them so they feel less overwhelming.

During a session, the therapist asks you to recall a troubling memory while also guiding your attention with side-to-side eye movements, taps, or sounds. This “dual focus” helps the brain process the memory in a healthier way, reducing its emotional intensity.

I also bring in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (identifying, challenging and reframing our thoughts), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (we are dealt a hand of cards, how can we use our personal values to make meaning and build acceptance/compassion toward them), Mindfulness/Polyvagal (our body keeps the score! Let’s learn ways to keep it calm!)

As humans, we exist in parts (our inner child, our anxious part, our parent part, our student part, our educator part, etc.). Parts work seeks to identify what those parts are trying to tell us, what they may be trying to protect us from and how to listen, work with and explore them.

Play Therapy/Art Therapy (using interactive methods like art, card games, etc., to build connections). Vision boards, making playlists, Uno and drawing are therapy too!