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I work a lot with people-pleasers. Because of this, the clients I work with often want to figure out how to fix their problems. They’re so used to trying to fix other people’s problems that they believe everything will be better once they have a solution.

Well, the clients who have success with me know that there’s no magic solution. They might start by asking me for answers, to help them “fix” away their problems…but they soon realize that there is no quick fix. These clients realize that they want to take the time to learn how to listen to their needs. They want to stop looking to other people for solutions or even to give them their sense of worth. I’m not here to give them a fish—I’m here to help them learn how to fish (& sometimes it can take a dang long time to catch a fish, am I right?)

I also work with clients who have experienced religious trauma. This is a separate niche, so my clients might have religious trauma without being a people-pleaser, or they might be a people-pleaser without having religious trauma. But these two aren’t mutually exclusive. Sometimes my clients fall into both categories: because of the religious trauma they experienced, they learned codependent behaviors that encouraged their people-pleasing tendencies. Whether my clients fall into either or both categories, there are past experiences they want to process to help them change their beliefs about how they show up in relationships.

In general, most of the clients I see have experienced complex trauma. Because of this, they often have a lot of self-awareness. I love this—it gives us a leg up in our work, since we know a bit about why they are the way they are. Now, the clients who have success with me are willing to slow down & come back into their bodies. This is different than what they’ve know most of their lives—they’ve always sought self-awareness so that they can feel in-control of knowing themselves, flaws & all. I work well with the clients who are willing to pause. They stop intellectualizing & they embrace their emotions.

Oh, & these clients come ready to work. They’re tired of how things have been & they’re ready to see shifts in their lives. They’re ready to make those shifts happen. It’s okay if they don’t know what they need to do just yet—that’s what our time together in therapy is for! But they do know they need something to change in their lives.

Exploring codependence in therapy involves examining the roles and behaviors that individuals adopt in their family and relationships. Codependency often manifests as patterns of caregiving, enabling, and sacrificing personal needs for others. Underlying codependent behaviors may be influenced by trauma and deeply ingrained beliefs about self-worth and responsibility.

By unpacking your beliefs and behaviors in our sessions, you will better understand how codependency affects your relationships and life. Therapy will allow you to identify and challenge dysfunctional patterns while learning healthier ways of relating to yourself and others. Through exploring codependence, you will gain insight into how it developed, how it influences you, and how you can move towards more fulfilling relationships based on mutual respect and interdependency rather than reliance on unhealthy patterns of behavior.

Exploring relationship issues in therapy involves examining the roles, behaviors, and patterns that you bring to your relationships. These factors can often be traced back to past traumas or deeply ingrained beliefs that shape your interactions with others. By identifying and understanding these underlying factors, you will be able to unpack and address the root causes of your relationship struggles.

In our time together, you may learn new communication skills, establish healthier boundaries, and develop a greater sense of self-awareness. By exploring past traumas and how they have affected your beliefs about relationships and yourself, you will gain new insights into your own behaviors and patterns. As you work to heal those wounds, you can cultivate deeper, more fulfilling connections with those around you.

At times in our life, we may find ourselves reassessing our religious beliefs. This process may bring to light certain experiences we’ve had or beliefs we’ve held that we no longer agree with. Whatever you decide is best for you—staying in a religion, finding a new religion, leaving a religion, or something else entirely—is what’s best for you.

This process has likely shattered your entire identity & belief system into pieces. I’m here to pick up those pieces with you. I want to help you examine which pieces have hurt you & put back together the pieces that you see value in keeping. Through therapy, I will help you to cultivate your self-safety, increase your self-trust, & reclaim your self-authority.

Schedule a free consultation with me today if you’re ready to start therapy.

Religious trauma can occur when individuals experience a loss of faith, encounter conflicts with religious or spiritual beliefs, or have been the victim of abuse or manipulation within a religious setting. Religious trauma can manifest in a variety of ways, including anxiety, depression, guilt, and shame, as well as struggles with self-worth, relationship issues, and difficulty trusting others. Traumatic events within religious communities can shake an individual's core beliefs and values, causing confusion, pain, and a loss of identity. Religious beliefs that may have once provided comfort and connection within a community can become triggers for anxiety, fear, and shame. Trust in religious authorities and institutions may be broken, leading to disconnection and ostracization from one's community.

A faith transition is a profound and often complex process that involves a shift in an individual's beliefs, values, and spiritual practices. It can be a challenging and emotional journey, marked by periods of doubt, questioning, and uncertainty. People may experience a faith transition for various reasons, including a change in life circumstances, exposure to new ideas, or a personal crisis. It may involve leaving a religion altogether, exploring different traditions, or redefining one's relationship with spirituality. While a faith transition can be a challenging experience, it can also lead to a deeper sense of personal growth, understanding, and connection with oneself and others.

I grew up a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I served a mission in New York City. I graduated from Brigham Young University. I worked for LDS Charities.

I know the connection that comes from having a therapist who shares aspects of your background and identity. I know the comfort that comes from having a foundation to work from, without having to explain cultural aspects or even terminology like “wards” or “general conference”.

I also know the importance of having an objective, safe space to process. A space that is entirely your own, where you can learn to listen to your gut and make decisions for yourself. For this reason, I focus my therapy style on your exploration and your own validation—especially since religious institutions can keep us from that very self-trust that is necessary to living a life that we have chosen for ourselves. I will never encourage clients to make a decision regarding their membership in a religion. I will never tell clients what to do. I will help clients learn how to listen to their intuition and settle into their authenticity. I will focus on letting clients claim their own authority in their lives and regain a sense of autonomy.

If you find yourself in a season of life where you are facing or assessing certain beliefs or experiences that no longer serve you, reach out to me to start therapy. I’m here to help you make sense of what has happened to you so that you can decide what you want to do about it.

“Oh, no worries! I don’t want to be an inconvenience!”

“I just wanted to check, but it’s totally fine if not!”

“I’m good with anything, whatever works best for you!”

Do you hear yourself saying those things? Do you find yourself neglecting your own needs in order to make sure those around you are happy & comfortable? Do you regularly find yourself trying to please the people in your life? (See what I did there?)

If so, you are not alone. But you are likely exhausted & resentful & ready to do something about it! I’m guessing that’s why you’re here—you want to relieve yourself of your people-pleasing tendencies. You want to get to the root of those behaviors to understand why you prioritize others instead of yourself. You want to finally start communicating what you need in your relationships! You want to even just figure out what you need in your relationships! You want to set boundaries! (Okay, maybe that last one is scary. Let’s go with: you want to get to a place where you are comfortable with setting boundaries! Is that better?)

People pleasing typically develops as a coping mechanism in response to trauma, such as experiencing rejection or neglect in childhood. Individuals who engage in this behavior tend to have deeply held beliefs about their own self-worth being tied to their ability to make others happy. As we explore these behaviors in therapy, we will spend time identifying and examining the roles, behaviors, and patterns you have adopted in order to gain acceptance and approval from others.

As we delve into these roles and behaviors within your relationships, patterns begin to emerge that might have been previously unnoticed. Understanding how trauma and beliefs influence your desire to please others can empower you to break free from harmful cycles and build healthier connections. We will also work to identify your personal signs of people pleasing and shift your focus toward self-care and self-validation. This can involve developing new communication skills, boundary-setting, and challenging underlying beliefs that may be keeping you trapped in ineffective coping mechanisms. By exploring the roots of your beliefs and behaviors, you will cultivate a more resilient sense of self and approach relationships from a place of empowerment and authenticity that isn't dependent on others' approval. You will experience a greater sense of agency in your relationships and a deeper understanding of your own needs and desires.

 

Anxiety is a normal human emotion, but it can become a problem if you experience too much anxiety or feel like your anxiety is interfering with your life. Whether you experience anxiety in relationships, in social situations, or surrounding certain topics, we can work together to alleviate & understand your anxiety.

Our therapy sessions will include understanding the root causes and triggers of your anxiety, as well as exploring underlying emotions and past experiences that contribute to your anxiety. Throughout our time together, you will learn new coping mechanisms, come to accept your thoughts and emotions without judgment, improve your self-awareness, and gain the tools you need to manage your anxiety and live a fulfilling life.

Women's issues encompass a vast array of topics, including reproductive rights, equal pay, sexual harassment, domestic violence, and gender discrimination. These topics are relevant to all women regardless of their age, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or sexual orientation. Exploring women's issues in therapy is crucial for addressing the impact of gender roles, inequality, and oppression on mental health. Gender roles and societal expectations often create unrealistic expectations and pressures for women, leading to feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt, and anxiety. Women are also more likely to experience inequality and oppression, which can manifest in various forms of discrimination, violence, and abuse.

Therapy can provide a safe and supportive space for you to explore these experiences and work towards healing and empowerment. I will utilize components of feminist therapy approach, which can be particularly helpful in addressing the systemic issues of gender inequality and oppression, challenging cultural norms and biases that contribute to women's struggles. By exploring women's issues in therapy, you can gain insight into your experiences and find ways to navigate and challenge social norms and expectations that limit your potential.

Everyone is so different & has different needs. Just like the different learning styles, there are different therapy modalities. Some modalities might feel more comfortable for you or make more sense to you. I currently offer a few different types of therapy based on your needs & comfort: traditional talk therapy, EMDR therapy and walk & talk therapy. You can read about each of them below! In the future I’m excited to incorporate additional modalities to provide an even richer experience for my clients.

The majority of our time together will likely involve traditional talk therapy. This looks pretty much what it sounds like: we’ll be sitting & talking about presenting problems, current stressors or therapeutic goals. As our therapeutic relationship develops, we’ll both understand you & your needs more intimately. If you live in Dallas & will be coming to my office for in-person sessions, I’ve worked hard to create a comfy & cozy space for us to chat. I hope you feel welcomed & safe in my office!

 

I offer EMDR therapy to clients who are seeking it or might benefit from it. EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing; it is a way for us to safely process & heal from traumatic memories & events, so if you have past experiences you are ready to heal from, EMDR might be for you! EMDR looks different than typical talk therapy sessions, although we will likely incorporate it throughout our time together & in-between other talk therapy sessions. You can learn more about EMDR here or through these two informative videos (1 & 2).

Individuals

I offer individual therapy to adolescents and adults facing a multitude of concerns: anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, gender and sexual identity. My initial goal when working together is to create an environment that is calm and open so that we may explore the nature of the issues as they relate to your thoughts, behaviors, feeling and attitudes. We will then create goals that are specific to you. 

Teens & Adolescents

Teens and adolescents are often experiencing the same complex feelings and thoughts that adults do, but do not have the same agency and can feel caught between childhood and adulthood. I really appreciate working with this age range, and take time to understand the individual as they are and how they express themselves. I am not here to give them my opinion or advice, but to explore aspects of themselves, develop effective problem-solving skills, and help them explore healthy life choices.

Couples/ Relationship

Couples/Relationship therapy can be utilized at any stage of partnership. I provide support and insight so that you may have the opportunity to explore feelings and uncover ways of thinking that may be hindering your relationship. We will collaborate together to learn tools to better manage conflicts, identify repeating patterns, explore attachment styles, and develop more effective communication skills. Some of the concerns that I see most commonly include intimacy, trust-building, communication skills, parenting, sexual conflicts, feelings of anger and betrayal, boundaries, and exploring polyamory. 

Premarital Therapy

Premarital therapy is under the umbrella of couples/relationship therapy, however the focus is on discussing sensitive topics and expectations that can be sometimes overlooked. The goal will be similar to couples/relationship therapy as the intention is to build a strong foundation and learn how to openly navigate difficult conversations without disrupting your connection, making the transition into marriage smooth. 

LGBTQ+ Services

I work to provide supportive and compassionate care to the LGBTQ+ community. We can work collaboratively to accomplish your goals, whether they are exploring your sense of self, working through sexuality acceptance concerns, addressing discrimination-related stressors, exploring sexual orientation and gender identity, or requesting counseling for SRS. 

Trauma 

Trauma recovery is possible, whether you have experienced a specific incident or chronic trauma, I have specialized training in trauma recovery and offer care for individuals across the lifespan. You are not alone in your journey. Healing may not always be linear, but there is help available. 

Individuals
Couples/Relationship
Premarital
Trauma
LGBTQ+
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