About
Merely Getting By
Life isn’t how you imagined it would be. Going through the motions isn’t enough anymore. There must be something else. Something more. Something better.
Who are you? You’re not sure anymore. You are tired of the expectations put on by your friends and family and all the running around that you do to make it all work.
You feel that you are taking care of everything and everyone else first. It’s exhausting, and there’s little time left for you and your needs and wants.
You want closeness – connection – despite being surrounded by people, you’re as isolated as you’ve ever been. Not alone but lonely, unknown. You want to feel good, secure, seen, and experience the joy that brings life and creative energy. You wonder what your problem is and why it is so hard to be happy.
You’re not crazy. You’re not alone. And you can have more.
There is a way forward. Through therapy.
Therapy is about becoming more of yourself. Your most authentic and best self. Empowering yourself to embody your biggest and best dreams.
Showing up and creating the thing called life as you want it and as you dream it.
In therapy with me, you can and will learn the tools you need to transform your difficulties into deeper relationships and experiences.
You do have to put time and attention toward getting what you want.
In my office, you will find warmth, understanding, humor, wisdom, and experience.
Gradually Becoming More
Why not permit yourself to want – and subsequently have – all you dream of having?
When you can do that, you become radiant.
Why not spend a little time learning from and cleaning up your past – and point yourself toward your biggest and brightest future?
No matter how much your past may resemble a nightmare, if you put in the work, you can have the future of your dreams.
Working with me
You come to my office and talk it through.
You get clear about your desires, goals, and intentions. You begin to see – clearly – the negative patterns that have hampered you for years. You gain insight and understanding and make long, needed changes.
I support you through the discovery process, the insights, and the epiphanies and awareness. You gain tools to have healthy boundaries – a natural outcome of higher self-esteem. You also get clearer on what you want and uncover new ways to manifest your desires.
You not only learn about yourself – but you also learn relationship skills, communication skills, and lifelong tools to handle both inner and outer turmoil.
Actively Living Better
Better boundaries = better relationships.
Better relationships with family, partners, and friends. When you’ve cleaned up your past, you’ll be clearer and firmer about your needs in the present.
With less fear of being hurt, you’ll be freer to love.
Having the confidence that you can handle whatever comes your way, you’ll be able to take more intelligent risks and know you’ll be ok – regardless of outcomes.
With greater emotional fluency, you’ll gain a clearer vision and increased energy to pursue that vision, no matter what it is.
Rediscover yourself. Claim your power. Shape your world.
Your dreams are not only possible, but they’re also out there, just waiting for you.
All you need to do is take the first step. Reach out to me today, and let’s get started! I offer a free 20-minute consultation so that we can learn more about each other.
About Me
Biding time
My heart-centered approach comes not only from my training but from my own life experiences.
I met the love of my life when I was 43 and got married for the first time at 45. Before that, I was single for 12 years.
I always wanted to be married, but I had things I wanted to do first. Many things. Plus, relationships were confusing, they didn’t feel right to me most of the time.
I saw very little evidence around me of the kind of amazing relationship that I wanted. I got very clear about what I wanted, and then, with help, I did the work I needed to do to create it.
After graduating with an English degree from Syracuse University, I spent 10 years teaching in wilderness settings as an outdoor guide and park ranger. I lived and worked in some of the most unique parks in the United States. I served as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, climbing ranger, and outdoor educator. In many ways I was living my dream, but I wanted more.
My own healing journey
At 30, I went back to school and earned a graduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Clinical Social Work and started my personal healing journey in earnest. I didn’t realize that that is what I was doing – I just knew I was depressed, and the way I managed things needed to change.
While in school, I started practicing yoga. I started therapy. I traveled. I learned breath-work and became a facilitator and a trainer. I went on silent retreats.
I trained in psychoanalysis, relationship counseling, group work, coaching, and mindfulness. I got better. I got clear on what I wanted in my life and learned how to create it. It wasn’t even close to what my family expected from me or what I learned from them. I found my own way.
I learned and continue to learn about the connections between mind, body, brain, and emotions, and how physical, mental, and emotional changes happen.
I love helping people gain emotional intelligence and get better at responding to their own needs in the context of their relationships.
Because life is relationship, and once you learn to interpret your own emotions and utilize that learning, it becomes much more fun.