Services Offered

Anxiety and Depression

Experiencing occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. However, people with anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive, and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Sometimes, anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak (panic attacks). Feelings of anxiety and panic can interfere with daily activities, are difficult to control, are out of proportion to the actual danger, and can last a long time. You may avoid situations to prevent these feelings.

Depression is a mood disorder that results in a persistent feeling of sadness, loss of interest, irritability, sleep and appetite disturbances, lack of energy, and difficulty concentrating, amongst other symptoms. It affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. For some people with depression, symptoms usually are severe enough to cause noticeable problems in day-to-day activities, such as work, school, social activities, or relationships with others. Some people may feel generally miserable or unhappy without really knowing why. 

Having a place to discuss contributing factors to either or both of these emotional experiences and express feelings about them is crucial to moving toward better.

Postpartum

The birth of a baby can trigger a jumble of powerful emotions, from excitement and joy to fear and anxiety. But it can also result in something you might not expect — depression. Most new moms experience postpartum "baby blues" after childbirth, which commonly include mood swings, crying spells, anxiety and difficulty sleeping. Adjusting to the new role and all that comes with it can provide unique challenges. Some new moms experience a more severe, long-lasting form of depression known as postpartum depression. None of the postpartum struggles a mom faces are a character flaw or weakness. If you are struggling to adjust postpartum, prompt treatment can help you manage your symptoms and help you bond with your baby.
New fathers can experience postpartum depression, too. They may feel sad or fatigued, feel overwhelmed or anxious, or have changes in their usual eating and sleeping patterns ― the same symptoms mothers with postpartum depression experience. It is an adjustment for everyone!

Eating disorders

When other areas of life feel out of control, often the one thing people feel like they can control is what goes into their bodies. Additionally, living in a society that values thinness puts undue pressure on people to look a certain way. Processing and regaining agency over other aspects of life in addition to developing a sense of self that is confident and independent can help negate the need for disordered eating and distorted thinking about one’s body.

LGBTQIA+ Allied

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, intersex, agender, asexual, pansexual, gender-fluid (and more) individuals are members of every community. They are diverse, come from all walks of life, and include people of all races and ethnicities, all ages, all socioeconomic statuses, and from all parts of the country. The healthcare needs of LGBTQIA+ people are sometimes unique and often overlooked, contributing to health disparities experienced by vulnerable populations. I guide my patients every step of the way and implement various methods to help them process and feel secure in their identities.

PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that is triggered by a traumatic event through either experiencing or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event. Most people who go through traumatic events may have temporary difficulty adjusting and coping, but with time and good self-care, they usually get better. If the symptoms get worse, last for months or even years, and interfere with your day-to-day functioning, you may have PTSD.

Childhood trauma and
Adult manifestations

What happens to us when we’re children influences all aspects of our life as adults from how we feel about and therefore how we treat ourselves, to how we feel about others, treat others, and allow them to treat us. While time can sometimes soften the past, nothing that happens ever completely goes away, and when things in our past remain uncovered or unresolved, they have the potential to crop up and cause problems, often without much notice and at inopportune times. Although one option is to try to push those things down or away so as not to have to feel, that usually doesn’t work well or for long. Another option is to try to dig in and understand, potentially painful, but allowing for healing. Call today to make an appointment.

Psychological ramifications of chronic medical illness

Receiving or having a loved one receive a life-changing medical diagnosis starts a series of events for which it is impossible to be prepared, including a wide range of thoughts about how the diagnosis and subsequent treatments will change every aspect of the person’s life. It is common for patients with medical conditions to suffer from mood disturbances like depression and anxiety, as well as feelings of grief.  I have worked closely with patients (and/or their caregivers) during all stages of medical illness, from initial diagnosis, through treatments, remissions, recurrences, hospitalizations, and end of life planning with compassion by providing a space to express feelings. Get in touch to book an appointment.

Aging

Along with aging comes a series of events and experiences, some expected and part of normal aging, some not. These events can include illness, loss, impaired or altered functioning, changing living situations, and changing relationships, amongst others. Some people struggle to navigate the landscape and adjust to any or all of the transitions or differences. Exploring feelings, options, and ideas about how one wants to age can assist in easing into a new phase of life.