LGBTQ+ & neurodivergent-affirming therapy for teens & adults with complex trauma based out of Portland, Oregon
Do you struggle to understand and communicate your own feelings? Has it impacted your sense of self & relationships?
Your nervous system was hardwired at a young age to ignore your needs, to push away your feelings
You feel your throat close, your temperature rise, your heart rate increase. You want to be seen, heard, and deeply understood. But sometimes, you don’t even know where to start, or how. The fact is, this isn’t your fault. Your nervous system was hardwired at a young age to ignore your needs, to push away your feelings. This is because it was not safe. Maybe you experienced relational trauma and neglect in childhood. This had a profound impact on how you relate to others and find safety within connection. Maybe you were parentified or had to grow up way too soon. Now you’re wondering how to access your deepest feelings and needs, much less how to communicate them to loved ones. And when do you try to speak your mind, you often feel dismissed or judged.
As a queer-affirming and neurodivergent-affirming therapist, much of my work stems around self-empowerment, emotional regulation, and finding your voice.
While I offer psychotherapy, I also believe in the power of the arts, namely music. Music therapy can help you access the deeper things, especially when traditional talk therapy has not helped. Whether that is listening to a song together, songwriting, or even improvising, music therapy provides a space for processing and understanding when words are not sufficient. You’ve had a difficult time putting your experience into words, and music can be another avenue for expression and empowerment.
Attachment-
based Therapy
This is an emotionally-focused
approach that can help you explore how childhood experiences
impact your emotional patterns and how you show
up in relationships.
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy
Internal Family Systems
This approach helps the individual to identify, explore, and have compassion towards the "parts" of you that have helped you survive.
Motivational Interviewing
This collaborative approach can guide you towards making a change in your life, even in the face of ambivalence.
Music Therapy
As a board-certified music therapist, I can support you in reaching your goals through active music-making
or guided music listening.
This can be a helpful outlet if
you struggle to put your
experiences into words!