Specializations

EMDR - 

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence based trauma therapy that has been shown to be very effective in helping people to heal and process overwhelming experiences, whether they are adverse childhood events, or more recent experiences that have overloaded one’s system.  EMDR is a whole therapy approach, meaning it encompasses all aspects of a therapeutic progression, including history taking, preparatory stages of skill building, reprocessing and desensitization, and future planning.  One of the things I like most about EMDR therapy is that, while I may be guiding the process, it really is one’s own brain that engages in the healing process and I have witnessed just how incredibly empowering that is.

Parts Work-

Parts Work is an approach to exploring, processing, and healing different aspects of ourselves.  We all have parts - different modes of being and behaving that help us to navigate an ever changing and evolving world.  Our parts help us to manage our lives and to meet surprises and challenges. Sometimes, however, these modes of being can seem to take over, and lead to more difficult and challenging situations.  I utilize techniques from Internal Family Systems and Structural Dissociation models to explore and work with these parts so that they can be more effective in helping you to deal with stress and manage important aspects of your life.  I’ve found this approach to be particularly helpful in dealing with the impacts of trauma, and addressing difficulties in relationships.     

Infidelity-

When infidelity occurs in a relationship it can feel earth shattering.  Betrayal Trauma occurs when a person you depend upon significantly undermines and violates your trust.  Upon discovery, the betrayed partner often feels like their entire world as they knew it is turned upside down and is desperate to know what is true and what is safe.  The partner who did the betrayal often feels hopeless in recovering the relationship and like nothing they do will ever be enough. The core of this work entails establishing safety, then building trust, and through safety and trust reconnecting with each other.   It is possible to work through this! I have helped couples recover from betrayal and infidelity to cultivate relationships better than they ever were before. 

Porn Addiction-

Pornography addiction is increasingly recognized as a growing problem in the United States. While interest in viewing erotic material is a natural desire, recent societal changes in technology has made pornographic material ubiquitous.  It is easily accessible, affordable, and can be done in complete anonymity.  These factors combined with rapid download speeds and the ability to quickly cycle through imagery and videos has laid a foundation for serious problems related to porn use. Pornography addiction is increasingly recognized as a growing problem in the United States. A lot of people have difficulty recognizing the signs of pornography addiction.  Some hallmarks are escalating use of pornography, increasing intensity of pornographic material, persistent viewing of material that is outside of one’s moral and ethical values, increasing risk of consequences to viewing material -such as at work or school.  People with pornography addiction may find themselves increasingly objectifying others, feeling more alone and isolated in the world, and more and more preoccupied with finding and viewing erotic material.  

Pornography addiction can have destructive consequences.  Compulsive porn users often report various sexual dysfunctions, anxiety and mood disorders, lack of motivation, and intense shame.  Consequences can include losing important relationships, poor performance in school or profession, losing one’s job.  

People in intimate relationships with compulsive pornography users may experience self blame and confusion for relationship problems. Often they are dealing with lack of sex in intimate partnerships, being overly objectified by their partners, and feelings of isolation and disconnection from their porn addicted partner.

If you have tried to quit pornography but find you just keep coming back to it, then you may be dealing with pornography addiction.  As a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT), I am prepared to help you confront and heal from this destructive pattern. I will help you to learn strategies for stopping porn use, understand how and why your pornography addiction started and escalated, and mend, as much as possible, damage done to important relationships.

If you are a couple dealing with a recently discovered pornography addiction it is important that you work with someone who understands both the power of pornography addiction, and the incredible damage that it can cause in a relationship.  I have helped others like you to move from this shock and crisis to establishing safety and trust.  With this as a foundation, I can then help you grow your relationship so you both feel that you can thrive.

Sex Addiction-

Sex addiction refers to the repeated compulsive engagement in sexual activities, despite repeated attempts to reduce or eliminate these activities.  People with sex addiction often find themselves cycling through phases of preoccupation and fantasy, planning and seeking sexual activity, engaging in the sexual activity, and then experiencing intense feelings of shame, anxiety, or despair - only to repeat the cycle again and again.  Often the behaviors intensify and escalate over time such that the sexual acting out becomes more and more risky or taboo.  

Sex addiction is typically shrouded in secrecy and people with sex addiction often refer to feeling like they are living double lives.  A public life in which they appear to be functioning normally, and a secret life in which they obsess over and engage in damaging sexual behaviors such as excessive porn use, having multiple affairs, visiting sex workers, engaging in voyeurism or exhibitionism, cruising hook up sites and apps, and engaging in dangerous sexual activities.

The consequences of sex addiction can be destructive, and even fatal.  They may include intense feelings of shame, depression, or anxiety, inability to connect with others, ruined relationships, contracting STIs, unwanted pregnancies, loss of jobs or careers, bankruptcy, being in high risk situations with possibility of being robbed or physically harmed. 

If you think you may have a sex addiction, I may be able to help you.  I have experience helping people to establish abstinence and find sobriety.  I can help you work to repair the damage done in your life and relationships. Perhaps most importantly, I can help you repair your relationship to yourself such that you may live a life of integrity and wholeness.

If you or your partner has recently discovered that sex addiction has been a secret component of your relationship, I can help you both to figure out next steps.  Couples therapy is often needed, in addition to individual counseling for both partners, to repair the damage done by sex addiction.  I can help you to rebuild the fundations of your relationship, to start feeling safe again, and begin rebuilding trust.