Special Interests

Many of us have had experiences that left a lasting impression, sometimes powerful enough that it changes the how we feel about ourselves and others or how we go about our day. We don’t often think of these experiences as traumatic but we can’t stop thinking about them. It is easy to think, “well it wasn’t as bad as what someone else had happen.” However, we think about ourselves differently, feel like something is wrong or not good enough. We have a hard time understanding why we can’t get over it. Having a safe place to figure out what happened and how it affected us is the beginning of moving forward with life.

We've all had moments from growing up or with family that can be confusing or uncomfortable. Sometimes these moments make it hard to spend time with family, feel comfortable or even make us avoid our family. Experiences that linger can start to change how we feel around our friends or coworkers and how we look at ourselves. It is normal for us to just move on and not realize that moment changed how we feel about ourselves, our future, relationships, ability, or mood. Until there is a holiday, an anniversaries or a birthday, a new baby and suddenly the stress increases. Sometimes we don’t even realize we are constantly stressed or tense, especially if it is always been this way. I notice people say that their family is complicated, and it is just the way things were, or it wasn’t a big deal when maybe it really was. Family is complicate, ,even in the best of times and understanding your experience and your feelings can make a big difference on how you feel about yourself.

Grief, whether expected or unexpected, can be a hugely challenging experience. Coping with loss and the absence of someone close to us can make it harder to manage day-to-day tasks, to go through the day or even get out of bed. Grief can be surprising and show up when we least expect it like when we go to a restaurant and suddenly remember the last time we were here with them.

Sometimes a loss that doesn’t make sense or seem to "follow the rules,” so to say. When we lose someone suddenly or lose someone to suicide the world can feel like it doesn’t make sense anymore. There can be pressure to “get over it” and it is rarely that simple. Therapy can help cope with the loss and start to make sense of how you feel so you can begin to figure out how to move forward after your loss.

Women’s issues are all over the news lately whether it is health issues, pregnancy, menopause, mental health or being a professional. There is so much information and so many conflicting thoughts and opinions it is easy to be overwhelmed. And sometimes the headlines miss the point so we start searching online to figure out how to deal with our bodies, our minds, our family and roles or work. There is no part of being a woman that is stagnant and definitely no singular experience to lean on as a guide. Our lives and bodies grow and change so often it isn’t unusual or sense of self, our relationships or job, even our identity changes. It is normal to see a woman still going, even when she really doesn’t feel like she can. The number of changes that happen in a woman’s body, across her lifespan from puberty through menopause play a major role in how she looks at herself in the mirror and what she understands about her body and how it works. Being informed about what changes we can expect, how those changes affect our minds and our bodies can help know what questions to ask or what experts to seek out. There is a lot about being a woman, that isn’t talked about, that has been normalized or dismissed. Sometimes it means we have to work harder or be louder for someone to listen, to believe you, and take you seriously. I see women struggling to cope with the stress of life, being a mother, deciding whether to have children or not, dealing with changes related in perimenopause or menopause and feeling overwhelmed and alone. Being a woman should not have to feel so hard and starting with a safe place to be heard and understanding your experience is how to pave a path to thriving.

When it comes to thinking about having a baby, it is easy to get excited and overwhelmed. There is a lot of information out there and it can be surprising how much is not talked about. Sometimes it is hard to figure out who to talk to and figure out how you talk to friends and family about what is happening. It is normal to notice emotions can run high and that can change how you feel about yourself, your partner and friends. It is so helpful to feel supported and be intentional in how you take care of yourself and your mental health.

When a woman becomes a mother, it can feel like no one prepared you for what to expect or how to take care of yourself, let alone a baby. Becoming a mother is a change in your identity and affects how you think about yourself and the world around you., including your beliefs, priorities and relationships, It can also change the way you think about your childhood and your own experience.

The postpartum period, or fourth trimester is an important time to learn how to take care of yourself and get to know yourself differently. The fourth trimester can also be a vulnerable time as you navigate changes to your body and hormones, your role as a mother and changes to your relationship. Having support during this period is important and can help build confidence and support your mental health.

Pregnancy and postpartum are times in your life where having extra support makes a difference in how you feel about your new role and learn your baby.

Hearing the word “cancer” completely changes how you feel about yourself. It can be overwhelming and difficult to make sense of and can leave you questioning everything. You start to develop a whole new vocabulary when you get diagnosed, learn about your body differently and may have to make plans for yourself, your family and your future. Coping with the diagnosis is something that can get set aside as you prepare for treatment, learn your prognosis or plan for surgery. It is amazing how quickly the plan you thought you had your plan for your life starts to change. Eventually you may start to try and imagine what life could look like after cancer. Drawing on my own experience as a survivor and years of experience helping people cope with their diagnosis, I can offer understanding and a knowledge to help you begin to cope with what is happening right now and figure out what comes next.

ADHD is something that can be overlooked for many people, especially women. As professionals, we are just beginning to understand that and sometimes that makes it hard to feel like you can get an accurate diagnosis. I meet people who have been in therapy for years treating anxiety or low self-esteem and were not ever evaluated for ADHD because they didn’t look like the stereotype. Very often anxiety and low moods are present and their ADHD was misdiagnosed or misunderstood. Even if you received a diagnosis of ADHD, you may not have had someone help you recognize your symptoms and how they influence you and your life.

If you are someone who has been diagnosed later in life with ADHD, or you think you may have ADHD, finding a therapist who can help you figure it out can bring such relief. Sometimes, I see adults who listen to their child being evaluated and realize they can check the same symptom boxes. I often hear people complain about stress related to work, not feeling good enough, having low self-esteem, being overwhelmed with family, the noise or chatter in their head, and the anxiety in social settings and it has become normal in their life. An accurate diagnosis can make a difference. I have years of training and help determine if you are struggling with ADHD and can help find answers to questions you may have had for years.