SERVICES
TRAUMA THERAPY
Have you survived something painful, frightening, or even life-threatening?
Do you feel as though you are living in the shadow of that moment?
Unresolved trauma impacts the brain and body, alerting us to threat, even in safe situations. Living in defense mode, it can be hard to stay present, maintain relationships, and feel trusting of ourselves and the world around us. Trauma is often at the root of common experiences like anxiety, depression, and other mental health obstacles.
Signs of Post-Traumatic Stress
If you are living with reflexive trauma, you may feel as though you are trapped in a nightmare. You might often ruminate on what happened or struggle with intrusive flashbacks. Maybe you feel triggered in certain situations, especially when encountering sights, smells, sounds, or sensations you relate to a traumatic experience. As a result, you may be avoiding the activities and people that once made you feel joyful and safe.
Sometimes trauma manifests as symptoms you may not associate with post-traumatic stress. You may think that you have already processed and moved on from your pain. Yet, you remain impacted by reflexive trauma. Not fully ready to let your guard down, you might withdraw, initiate conflict, or be quick to find flaws in others. As much as you have tried to feel comfortable and avoid “bad” thoughts and feelings, you simply don’t know how to just be.
Through the struggle to find connection and trust in therapy, you will achieve an earned sense of safety and confidence. In doing so, you could look forward to the future with confidence and a newfound sense of worthiness. Through therapy, you have an opportunity to resolve emotional pain and mental barriers to reconnect with your authentic self so that you are no longer living in the shadow of trauma.
Emotions can be scary and messy things for children, teens, and adults. I specialize in helping all my clients see their emotions as messengers. We work as a team to understand what those emotions are trying to tell you, how to tolerate them, and how to utilize their wisdom for increased connection, healing, and growth. I encourage my clients to shift away from the mindset of “What’s wrong with me?” and instead look at “What’s happened to me?”. Trauma doesn't have to mean abuse or neglect; it can be all the hurts we carry with us, day after day, until we've worn ourselves into a familiar, but ultimately unhelpful, pattern of behavior. I meet you where you are, and work in a way that is transparent, authentic, and values the strengths and challenges that you bring to the table, even if you aren't able to recognize them in the moment.
Ready to get started? Have some more questions?
Contact me to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
CHILDREN & FAMILIES
I truly find so much joy in working with children and their families. Children express themselves best through play and I enjoy encouraging that communication in the therapy sessions. I work closely with caregivers to help build that bridge of communication by encouraging and guiding therapeutic play in session between caregiver and child. In learning the language of play, we can discover the hurts or confusion that our children are carry around without the language to express it effectively. I can then guide play with the goal of improving connection, self-esteem, and emotion regulation. I aim to help families create the skills they need to navigate the stressors of life, long after therapy has ended.
What Parents Can Expect When Their Child is in Counseling?
The therapeutic process takes time. Unfortunately, there is no magic wand for therapists to wave, so mental health issues aren’t cured; they are managed. For a child or adolescent to learn counseling strategies to manage thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, it takes time. The child will not be learning these strategies immediately. This is because the first few sessions are focused solely on building a relationship. Therefore, the parent can’t expect major changes right away. With that said, research shows up to 50% of success in therapy is the therapeutic relationship, so it’s important the child feels comfortable with the therapist.
A common misconception is that the therapist will help the child be happy. Therapists actually aren’t trying to help the child be happy all day long; rather, therapists help the child cope with emotions that are disproportionate to the event in more effective manners. Remember, people are supposed to experience uncomfortable emotions. What’s important is how the child manages the emotion so they can continue to function in their environment.
If the child is in therapy due to the distress from an environmental circumstance, be aware that their issues may not just resolve when their situation changes for the better. The long-term effects of a situation may still require treatment after the actual problem has been solved so they can continue to function optimally across settings.
Also, as an attachment-based therapist, I view the parents as the expert in their child and primary resource for the kiddos. Parents or caregivers are required to participate throughout treatment in order to create the best opportunities for healing.
Ready to get started? Have some more questions?
Contact me to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
TEENS &/OR FAMILIES
Are you concerned that your teen is struggling with anxiety, depression,
stress, or unsafe behaviors, including excessive internet or cell phone use,
and harmful self-image from social media?
Yet do you feel like every conversation with them results in conflict, withdrawal, or a dead-end?
The adolescent brain is changing every day. While your teen’s intellectual knowledge is expanding, it might be taking time for their emotional skills to catch up. As a result, your teen may experience their feelings intensely and struggle to manage their stress. With tension building, you may have noticed excessive arguments, avoidance, and maybe even self-harm. Instead of engaging in the activities and relationships that used to enrich your teen’s life, lately, they’ve turned away from them.
It’s hard to be around a teen who is often grumpy and insists on being left alone, but this is when they need the support of an adult the most. Working with a therapist, your teen can balance their budding independence with newfound skills for emotional awareness and stress management. Through the guidance and individualized support I offer at My Healing Haven, you’ll be able to reconnect with your teen, by providing them with support and structure so they don't feel alone.
Many teens choose not to disclose their true feelings out of concern that they will upset their parent(s) or be judged. However, a therapist offers trained, unbiased perspectives on a wide range of issues affecting teens. Therapy is a safe space to process distressing events, difficult emotions, and unhealthy behaviors.
I am passionate about working with teens from all backgrounds, including those who identify as LGBTQ, neurodiverse, or otherwise marginalized. Using a combination of evidence-based and person-centered therapies, I offer my teen clients individualized treatment planning to improve coping and stress management skills.
Ready to get started? Have some more questions?
Contact me to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
LGBT+ THERAPY
Being queer is about celebrating being exactly who you are. Being queer is not a choice or a phase. Being queer is about accepting the fluid nature of your sexuality.
At My Healing Haven, I respect all sexual and gender identities. I will not try to “talk you out of it”; I will help you navigate the difficult waters that are often a mirror image of transition itself. You will be safe, and you will be helped.
What about my child?
I practice from a gender affirmative treatment model, meaning I validate and support each
child in finding their authentic gender identity and gender expression. I am able to help families
assess whether their child is among the small number of gender variant children who are potentially
transgender. When that is clearly true, I can help with “social transitions”. I provide a completely
supportive environment for all members of the family and, when needed, I am not afraid to advocate for my clients with social institutions like schools.
Hormone Replacement Therapy
I am able and willing to write letters for Hormone Replacement Therapy and Reassignment Surgery, following the wpath.org standard of care guidelines. If you are looking for a place to feel safe, you have found the right place.
Ready to get started? Have some more questions?
Contact me to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
KINK-AWARE, POLY FRIENDLY,
SEX POSITIVE THERAPY
Sex Positive Therapy can be (almost!) whatever it is that you need it to be. In sex positive therapy, there is no touching or intimate contact of any kind—we are discussing questions and concerns related to your experiences of sexuality. You might want to learn more about a certain topic, process a past experience or explore possibilities that you’d like to have in the future. Some people seek out sex therapy on their own, and some bring their partner(s).
BDSM/Kink-Related Concerns
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How to order safety
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Consent/Best Practices
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Communication
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Gear
Changing Body-Related Concerns:
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Pregnancy
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Aging
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Menopause
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Weight loss or gain
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Chronic pain
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Disability
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Non-medical or medical aspects of gender transition and confirmation
Personal Education
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Better understand your own body and desires
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Masturbation techniques
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Orgasm
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Sexual abuse survivor support
As a KINK-AWARE and POLY FRIENDLY clinician:
I won’t assume that the issue you’re seeking help with is caused by or is related to your kink or poly orientation.
I won’t make assumptions about your treatment goals – particularly that these goals include changing your sexual desires.
I won’t try to “cure” you of BDSM or poly desires.
I will be aware that any distress you have about your kink or poly identity may be a normal part of internalized cultural bias against your sexual orientation rather than evidence of a disorder.
I will be sensitive to whether and how your kink or poly identity affects your work, social, and family relationships.
I will not assume abuse when you are in a BDSM relationship. I will not assume you are cheating or are tolerating cheating if you bring up other partners.
I will not assume that BDSM interests mean that you are not also interested in vanilla sexual behaviors.
If you have experienced abuse within a BDSM relationship, I can help you to process and understand that. I know that this can sometimes happen and that it can be very difficult to talk about.
I can help you to navigate the terms of your poly relationship and negotiate agreements that best serve you and your partners, identifying and honoring your needs.
Ready to get started? Have some more questions?
Contact me to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
ADULT INDIVIDUAL
Individual therapy or counseling is the process of inner exploration leading to a deeper understanding of how you relate to yourself, to others, and to the world in general.
Therapy is about much more than a “place to vent,” or a “listening ear.” My approach to therapy uses creative and traditional methods that incorporate scientifically-validated evidence-based interventions that are specific to your personal struggles.
If you:
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Feel overwhelmed by problems or stress
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Find yourself stuck and unable to get past your current problems
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Often worry or think about bad things that have happened or might happen
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Always find yourself assuming the worst
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Take responsibility for other people's problems
Individual Therapy can Help:
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Focus on strengths
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Heal from the past
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Become less attached to a negative point of view
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Capitalize on resilience
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Avoid difficult situations
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Care too much about what other people think
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Feel like you can’t control your emotions
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Have less energy, or changes in appetite and sleep
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Feel sad for several weeks
Together we collaborate with you to find solutions that lead to relief from your concerns. I believe that everyone is capable of achieving change. I will provide a judgment-free space and work closely with you towards the life you want.
By working together, you will be able to heal emotional wounds, uncover and understand self- destructive patterns and behaviors, and replace them with new, more productive behaviors and beliefs that will help you move closer to the life you envision for yourself.
I help you regain a sense of your identity, worth, needs, and resilience. Whatever the issue you struggle with, knowing who you are, how you got here, and what you need is the foundation of building a life in which you can, not just survive, but thrive.
If you want to create lasting change in your life and move closer to the life you envision for yourself, beginning therapy with us is the perfect place to start.
Ready to get started? Have some more questions?
Contact me to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
NEUROSPICY
My Healing Haven recognizes and celebrate the vast spectrum of human experiences and neurological diversity. Everyone’s brain is unique, and that uniqueness can lead to different, vibrant ways of experiencing and interacting with the world. Some individuals may find themselves frequently daydreaming or zoning out, easily distracted, or acting impulsively. These behaviors can be part of the rich tapestry that makes up neurodiversity, which includes conditions like ADHD and Autism.
These aren’t just about challenges; they’re about seeing the world through a unique lens, often filled with depth, detail, and creativity. For those with ADHD, characteristics often include inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. However, every individual is unique, and not everyone will exhibit these traits in the same way or intensity. Research on Autism and how it presents is changing every day.
Autistic individuals might:
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Experience the world with heightened senses, leading to a profound appreciation for details often overlooked by others.
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Engage deeply with specific interests, becoming experts in their chosen fields.
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Communicate in diverse ways, some with words and others through alternative methods.
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Navigate social interactions differently, sometimes preferring predictable routines or patterns.
Neurospicy folx might:
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Experience challenges in maintaining focus on uninteresting tasks or easily drift into daydreams
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Occasionally miss out on parts of conversations or have delayed auditory processing
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Feel a constant urge to move or express themselves or always have something in their hands
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Engage in enthusiastic or detailed conversations
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Sometimes act on impulses or can be called impulsive
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Interrupt or respond out of turn in conversations because you might forget what you have to say
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Experience intense and oftentimes complex emotions
Regardless of the individual traits, it’s crucial to provide understanding, guidance, and tools for self-awareness and growth. Navigating the world with these characteristics can lead to challenges in forming connections, school and work performance, self-confidence, or self-perception. However, with the right understanding and support, every individual can thrive, achieving success across various life domains.
If you’re curious about exploring therapy that understands and celebrates neurodiversity, including Autism and ADHD, reach out for a free consultation. I’m here to walk alongside you on your journey to understanding, growth, and empowerment.
Ready to get started? Have some more questions?
Contact me to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
PRENATAL, POSTPARTUM & INFANT ATTACHMENT
Bringing new life into this world or a new life into your family can be the most beautiful, terrifying and sometimes traumatizing experience. I feel that it’s crucial to seek, recognize, and build upon parents’ strengths during an infant and toddler’s critical years for development. Every parent deserves a champion for their attuned parenting, and every child deserves the foundation of a nurturing relationship.
I feel extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to receive extensive training in infant and early childhood mental health and attachment. I work with parents to understand newborn cues, behavior, and temperament, and to learn what is unique and special about their baby. I support you to know your baby’s preferences, strengths, and vulnerabilities, and how to decipher the uniquely individual ways they communicate delight, discomfort, and need for connection. Together, we deepen the bond between you, helping you feel attuned and confident in your ability to respond to your baby’s needs.
This training also allows me to work with children and their families where there may have been additional stress, transition, or overwhelm during early years which may be impacting the present. I can support families to process experiences held in the body, make sense of behaviors and emotions, and build a sense of safety and self-esteem.
Ready to get started? Have some more questions?
Contact me to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
LARGE BODY LOVE
What is fat acceptance?
Fat acceptance acknowledges that all bodies, including large ones, deserve respect and have inherent worth. Fat acceptance has roots in social liberation, with a focus on dismantling the oppression that people face due to their size. In a society that’s filled with anti-fat rhetoric, fat acceptance is about feeling proud, loved, and cared for in one’s body.
Fat activism, fat pride, and fat empowerment, all other words for Fat Acceptance, has a simple premise–everyone deserves love, regardless of their body shape or size. iFat Acceptance is a movement that aims to challenge societal beauty standards and promote self-acceptance and respect for people of all body sizes, particularly those who are fat or plus-sized. It seeks to counteract weight-based discrimination, bias, and stigmatization.
The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) is one of the main leaders in this movement. This nonprofit organization seeks to liberate fat people from fat shaming and body shaming, and advocate against all forms of fatphobia.
Challenges fat people face:
Fat people face oppression and difficulty in many walks of life, including the workplace, public spaces, healthcare settings, and their portrayal in mainstream media. Fatness often coincides with microaggressions and assumptions about laziness, poor willpower, carelessness, or inattentiveness. This is harmful, as stereotyping people who are overweight based on their looks causes others to miss out on getting to know an individual’s unique personality and traits.
Unique challenges that fat people face in modern society include:
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Healthcare discrimination:
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Fat people often feel dismissed, judged, or shamed by doctors for their health concerns. This discrimination can make seeking healthcare treatment feel incredibly anxiety-provoking, and it may contribute to medical trauma.
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Workplace prejudice:
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Weight discrimination is a rampant issue in the workplace.
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Fat tax:
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Plus-size clothing and items for fat people typically cost more than the same items for straight sizes.
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Travel difficulties:
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Cars, planes, and trains do not always accommodate fat people. Extra comforts typically require extra Fees.
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Direct bullying:
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Many fat people are bullied due to their size. Children can be especially prone to direct bullying, violence, and group exclusion.
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Dating difficulties:
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Fat people often report challenges with dating. Valid fears about feeling dehumanized or fetishized pose significant barriers when meeting new people.
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The core principles of fat empowerment involve:
1. Acceptance and Respect: Recognizing that bodies come in diverse shapes and sizes, and promoting respect and acceptance for all bodies, including those that are fat.
2. Self-Love and Self-Care: Encouraging individuals to cultivate a positive body image and prioritize their mental and physical well-being, regardless of their size.
3. Challenging Weight Bias: Advocating against weight-based discrimination, prejudice, and societal biases that perpetuate negative stereotypes and harm individuals based on their body size.
4. Health at Every Size (HAES): Emphasizing that health is not determined solely by body weight and that individuals can pursue holistic health goals irrespective of their size.
5. Body Autonomy and Representation: Promoting body autonomy and the visibility of diverse body types in media, fashion, and other public platforms, advocating for inclusivity and representation.
Fat empowerment movements aim to create a more inclusive and equitable society that values and respects individuals of all body sizes, challenges harmful societal norms, and encourages self-acceptance and well-being.
People who may benefit from a fat-friendly therapist include:
1. Fat individuals seeking support for body acceptance and self-esteem.
2. Those struggling with weight-related shame or discrimination. Fat-friendly therapists can provide a safe space to address experiences of weight bias, explore emotional well-being, and develop strategies for coping with societal pressures.
3. Individuals with disordered eating or body image concerns. Therapy can assist in healing relationships with food, promoting intuitive eating, and challenging harmful societal messages about body size.
4. People seeking support for weight-neutral health behaviors. A fat-friendly therapist can help individuals develop sustainable health behaviors, such as engaging in joyful movement, prioritizing self-care, and making informed decisions about their well-being.
5. Those with mental health concerns unrelated to body size: A fat-friendly therapist can address a range of mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, or relationship difficulties, without focusing on body weight or prescribing weight loss as a solution.
Ready to get started? Have some more questions?
Contact me to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
VIRTUAL THERAPY
Are you ready to embark on a journey of self-discovery, growth, and healing, all from the comfort of your own space?
Using virtual therapy, sometimes referred to as telehealth, I offer a unique and innovative approach to mental health and well-being.
Picture this: Instead of a traditional therapy office, our sessions take place in a virtual space that is as vibrant and dynamic as your imagination. Through video calls, we'll connect from wherever you feel most comfortable – whether it's your cozy bedroom, a study room at your favorite library, or even out in nature.
My therapeutic approach is anything but ordinary. I believe in the power of creativity to unlock new insights, foster personal growth, and ignite the spark of inspiration within you. I use a variety of online resources such as a virtual sandtray, virtual EMDR space, and even online games to tap into techniques and spaces that feel healing to you.
Is virtual therapy as effective as in-person therapy?
Yes! Patients and clinicians perceive online therapy and in-person therapy as effective. Based on research, virtual therapy has higher completion rates and rates of attendance. Your dedication to your mental health determines the effectiveness of therapy rather than the mode of delivery. Any therapy can lead to long-term improvements.
Ready to get started? Have some more questions?