therapy rooted in relationship and presence

When children or teens struggle, it’s rarely just about behavior. I work to understand what’s happening beneath the surface—what a child may be expressing through anxiety, withdrawal, outbursts, or disconnection. I begin with the belief that every child is doing the best they can. Behavior is communication—and healing begins with understanding.

Because parents play a central role in a child’s growth and healing, I begin by working closely with them. Early in the process, we take time to explore what’s working, what’s hard, and how the parent-child relationship is unfolding. We also reflect on the parents’ own childhood experiences—because how we were parented shapes how we parent. Throughout the process, I meet regularly with parents (often without the child present) to offer guidance, support, and insight into the relational patterns at play.

My work is guided by the principles of PACE—Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, and Empathy—which help children feel safe, seen, and valued. When parents bring curiosity and empathy to moments of challenge, they create the conditions for connection—and for change. Playfulness brings lightness, helping children open up even in difficult moments.

I also integrate approaches such as Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), Play Therapy, SMART (Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Treatment), and the Safe and Sound Protocol. These tools support nervous system regulation and strengthen attachment, helping children feel more grounded—not just in therapy, but at home, at school, and in the world.

Many adults come to therapy carrying burdens that can be hard to name—anxiety, grief, disconnection, or a quiet sense that something just doesn’t feel right. Sometimes there’s a clear moment of rupture; other times it’s a slow accumulation. Therapy offers a space to slow down, listen inward, and make room for something new.

My work with adults is relational, somatic, and grounded in attachment. I believe the patterns that shape how we connect, protect, withdraw, or override were once wise adaptations to early experiences. Some of these patterns may no longer serve us—but they deserve our attention, not our judgment.

Together, we tune into the body’s wisdom, tend to parts shaped by early relational wounds, and build capacity for new ways of being—with yourself and with others. Our work might involve tracking nervous system states, exploring long-held patterns, or practicing boundary-setting and presence in relationships.

I also offer the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), a music-based intervention that supports nervous system regulation and deepens the felt sense of safety. For some, it becomes a gentle but powerful doorway into deeper emotional work—especially when chronic hypervigilance or overwhelm make connection hard to access.

This isn’t about perfecting yourself. It’s about remembering, reclaiming, and reconnecting—with your body, your voice, and the parts of you that have gone quiet. I bring steadiness, curiosity, and care.

Whether you’re navigating a major transition or tending to something long-held, therapy can help you move toward more clarity, connection, and wholeness.