Description
"I believe that we were created for connection and that one of the greatest gifts we receive is to be truly understood." Dr. C
So many of us have been conditioned to equate strength with a lack of emotional vulnerability. Consider, for instance, how many times you may have heard someone referred to as “strong” because they “held it together” and were not seen crying after a loss. This “strength” has helped many of us survive in a lot of ways, but this same survival instinct can keep us trapped. Trapped in our pain, suffering in silence. Trapped surviving life, rather than truly fully living. If you are ready to break this cycle and begin the pursuit of a full, healthy, balanced life-- therapy can help.
My approach: Effective therapy is rooted in relationship. I work to create collaborative, authentic, and trusting professional relationships with clients founded in warmth, genuineness, and empathy. While therapy requires that we take an honest look at the parts of ourselves that we'd prefer to ignore, it also provides us with the opportunity to discover, own, and build our strengths. Rather than labeling parts of ourselves as good or bad, it is more useful to explore and understand the context in which certain characteristics developed. We then consider how the same traits may currently manifest in both healthy and unhealthy ways. The goal is to move towards meeting your whole self with the necessary compassion and empathy that lasting growth and change requires. In order to shift unhealthy patterns in our lives, we must first acknowledge all aspects of who we are. I've learned that optimal wellness lingers in the balance between seeking the courage required to confront the areas of our lives and aspects of ourselves that call for change, while gathering the wisdom and resilience necessary to accept the aspects of our lives and experiences that we cannot control. Therapy can help you move towards achieving and maintaining this balance.
My expertise: I specialize in grief work, maternal mental health care, stress management, Black mental health, and trauma. I also have a passion for supporting others in healing professions including first responders, medical staff, essential workers, and other mental health professionals. I also immensely enjoy connecting with individuals who are interested in engaging in therapy for personal growth, self-exploration, relational healing, spirituality concerns, and self-care.