“Personal growth is not a matter of learning new information but unlearning old limits.” Alan Cohen
Congratulations on taking your first steps toward personal growth! No matter what it is you are looking for, having help along the way is the bravest thing you could want for yourself.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and have experience working with adults, children, and families across a variety of settings. I specialize in working with trauma and attachment, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, OCD and anxiety disorders, and a variety of women's issues. Some categories within these specialities may include survivors of abuse, self esteem issues, interpersonal relationship difficulties, and obsessive thinking. I am passionate about what I do because I believe all of us have the capacity to heal, and learning what that means for each individual is truly unique.
My therapeutic approach is guided by attachment theory to better understand how we connect to others and ourselves based on prior life experiences. I and am trained in evidence-based treatments which as shown by extensive research helps us to effectively understand and resolve issues. That being said, a strong therapeutic relationship combined with space for self exploration is essential to create the environment you need to heal. As your therapist, I will support you with genuineness, compassion, flexibility in how we approach issues, and at times humor. I welcome the opportunity to best tailor therapy to your personal journey.
“Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” Brene' Brown
Individual Therapy
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Therapy is a collaborative process between the client and therapist to help facilitate change and improve quality of life. Whatever your goals of seeking therapy may be, we can work together to decide what type of therapy will best help you confront barriers to your personal growth. If left unaddressed, emotional distress can begin to interfere with work, relationships, and physical health. All the life demands we have to balance can feel overwhelming, and you are not alone. Individual therapy allows for a safe environment to not only learn how to manage distress, but heal from its core source of pain.
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Women's Issues
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Women face a unique set of mental health challenges including infertility, postpartum depression, gender discrimination, higher rates of negative body image, domestic violence, and sexual abuse. Whether these issues have occurred in the past or are happening now, they can often be accompanied by depression, social isolation, and feelings of worthlessness that can take a mental and emotional toll. Deciding to seek therapy and allowing yourself to be heard is an important first step away toward empowerment.
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BUILDING SHAME RESILIENCY: Dr. Brene' Brown is a shame researcher that developed Shame Resiliency Theory. This theory is grounded in the idea that we can build resilience to shame by connecting with our authentic selves and growing meaningful relationships with other people. Shame resilience involves moving toward empathy through courage, connection, and compassion when experiencing shame and away from fear, blame, and disconnect.
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1. Recognizing and understanding our shame triggers
2. Practicing critical awareness
3. Reaching out and telling our story
4. Speaking Shame so that it can't grow through secrecy and silence
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SELF COMPASSION THERAPY:
Self-compassion is extending compassion to one's self in instances
of perceived inadequacy, failure, or general suffering. Kristin Neff
has defined self-compassion as being composed of three main
components:
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1. Self-kindness: Self-compassion entails being warm towards
oneself when encountering pain and personal shortcomings,
rather than ignoring them or hurting oneself with self-criticism.
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2. Common humanity: Self-compassion also involves recognizing
that suffering and personal failure is part of the shared human experience.
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3. Mindfulness: Self-compassion requires taking a balanced approach
to one's negative emotions so that feelings are neither suppressed nor
exaggerated. Negative thoughts and emotions are observed with openness,
so that they are held in mindful awareness.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy is one of the most well studied, effective evidence-based treatments used to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Prolonged Exposure Therapy is appropriate to treat all forms of trauma and is highly recommended by the American Psychological Association. Categories of
trauma that I treat include childhood sexual, physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault, natural disasters, and single incident traumas. Prolonged Exposure is a specific type of cognitive behavioral therapy that teaches individuals to gradually approach trauma-related memories, feelings, and situations. Individuals work with their therapist in a safe, graduated fashion to face stimuli and situations that evoke fear and remind them of the trauma to increase their comfort and reduce their fear. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Prolonged Exposure Therapy (DBT-PE) is a comprehensive treatment that has been adapted to fit the needs of many diverse populations to first build the coping skills needed to address trauma symptoms.
Alternate
Cognitive Behavioral
Therapies:
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Exposure And Response Prevention
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most widely recognized and heavily researched treatment interventions to date. CBT is applied for a variety of mental health disorders and symptoms. Through extensive research and empirical studies, CBT has demonstrated effective outcomes for people with various diagnoses including eating disorders, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and trauma among others. I am specifically trained in Exposure and Response Prevention for OCD through the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety.
I am a currently a level 1 trained therapist for Internal Family Systems Therapy. Internal Family Systems (IFS) is an evidence based treatment primarily used to treat trauma and complex PTSD. IFS approaches trauma with a holistic, non-diagnostic lens exploring symptoms as protective measures that we've developed as a way to survive. This approach allows us to learn how to show up for ourselves, which in turn is our healing agent. This often has been referred to as "inner child" work.
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Attachment theory emphasizes how we continue to experience connection to those around us based off of our life, and particularly early life experiences. Using IFS and attachment based therapy together explores how life experiences have created who we are at the core of the symptoms we experience. This approach teaches us how to connect with ourselves first to establish healthy relationships from the inside out.
FEES AND POLICY
$135 per individual session self pay
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Insurance: I am credentialed with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Utah, HMHI, EMI, PEHP, Optum/UHC, DMBA, and Select Health
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Cancellation Policy: If you are unable to make your appointment, please cancel 24 hours in advance to avoid being charged for your session.
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Good Faith Estimate Notice
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost.
Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services.
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services.
You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service.
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call (800) 985-3059.
Contact Me
925 East Executive Park Drive Suite B
SLC, UT 84117
Tel: 801-210-0449
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