Approach.

I offer a safe, non-judgmental, and culturally sensitive space for my client’s free expression and exploration. Together we find that anything can be thought about, talked about, and felt. In the relationship we build, free from ordinary demands and expectations, my clients can enjoy occupying space and feeling deeply seen and heard. From here, we begin to grasp the shape of their core and carefully breathe life into the softest pockets of their inner world that have been formerly unreachable.

It is important to me to bring both lightness and depth into my work for a balanced and authentic therapeutic journey. I am aware that it is common to yearn for stability and constancy in this life, but it is also important to find ways to allow for the non-linear, flawed, and ever-changing nature of our existence. This involves acknowledging and processing grief, finding meaning, and adapting to change.

My attentive listening extends beyond words to the emotional melodies and unspoken cues within sessions, appreciating their significance alongside the spoken content.  I encourage my clients to actively attend to sensations in their bodies during sessions, and in between, to bolster their sense of awareness, grounding, and wholeness. The ability to quiet the mind and integrate bodily dissociations serves to boost resiliency throughout daily living. 

As an Irish native and LGBTQ+ affirmative therapist, I am particularly mindful of cultural issues. This encompasses a wide range of themes from identity formation, minority stress, colonization and migration trauma, and assimilation challenges. It’s important to find a balance that works for my clients, between serving the needs of your community and serving the needs of the self. From here, I help my clients unearth and enhance their latent wishes, unique talents, and sense of purpose. 

In my practice, the relationship that blossoms with my clients serves as the catalyst for therapeutic transformation. I actively encourage them to embrace the array of emotions that surface during our journey together and to view our connection as a launching pad for meaningful growth in their external relationships. I also encourage my clients to consider their role in relational conflict and explore the empowerment that comes with reclaiming their projections and their narratives. I welcome challenging subjects and emotions, recognizing that confronting them directly and expressing ourselves, empowers us to comfortably release our grip on stuck emotions. 

Whether in individual or couples therapy, I take great pleasure in exploring the intricacies of these dynamics, unearthing the echoes of past conflicts, and revealing the subtle expressions of unmet needs. My commitment is to help individuals redirect their energy towards collaboration and synergy, fostering unity rather than opposition. 

My foundational training in the Kleinian Object Relations model informs my thinking throughout this work. I actively practice within a contemporary framework rooted in Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychodynamic Theory. My approach is also heavily influenced by Attachment Theory and Existential-Humanistic psychology. I enjoy introducing my clients to their internal worlds and their unconscious minds and fostering a playful curiosity about their thoughts and actions, along with patterns of relating and attachment.

While this work can be painful, there is always room for lighter emotions. I strongly believe that the healing and uplifting power of laughter and humor should never be underestimated, as it possesses the ability to mend, release, and elevate in ways that words alone often cannot achieve.