I work from a standpoint that no one is “broken” or in need of “fixing.” Life can be tough and along the way we all make adaptations to do our best to survive and thrive. We are always doing the best that we know how, with what we have. However, sometimes those adaptations no longer serve us and possibly even harm us. I work with patients to work through these adaptations to have a richer, freer life.
I have twenty years of clinical experience with a range of populations. My approach is psychodynamic. The essence of psychodynamic therapy is that through self-examination and self-awareness one has a greater capacity for living a purposeful and satisfactory life.
Education and Experience:
I received my bachelor’s degree in 2002 with majors in Addiction Counseling and Social Work and a minor in Psychology from the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND. I received my master’s degree in Social Work with an additional Certificate in Women’s Health in 2010 from the University of Utah, in Salt Lake City, UT. In 2020 I completed a two year training program in adult psychodynamic psychotherapy via the Denver Institute for Psychoanalysis.
I worked in a variety of roles in mental health after receiving my bachelor’s degree. These included working as an adolescent addiction counselor, an addiction counselor with adults on parole, case manager with adults, and a children and youth advocate at a domestic violence service agency.
Following the obtainment of my master’s degree I’ve worked in roles as a therapist on an inpatient eating disorders unit, a therapist in an adult intensive outpatient program, a school based therapist, and a program manager. I have been in private practice since 2013.
Treatment approach:
The therapeutic approach I use is psychodynamic. At the crux of this approach is the understanding that we are joining in a relationship to aid you in knowing yourself more and creating the opportunity for you to have richer, more meaningful life experiences. It is important to recognize this is a shared journey in which neither of us has complete access to the truth without exploration.
The main aims of psychodynamic treatment are to:
- To make known the unknown. In other words, to bring to availability unconscious thoughts and feelings that may be interfering with your life.
- To examine current patterns and themes in your life, generally examining the present through the lens of the past. This can enable us to have richer lives in the present by releasing the bonds of past experiences.
- To use the therapeutic relationship itself as a tool to gain insights into relational patterns and practice relating differently.
For more information about this approach please see here American Psychological Association