My Approach to Therapy

I’m a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (BCD) with over 30 years of experience helping individuals, couples, and families navigate life’s challenges. I’ve worked in a variety of settings—from community mental health and psychiatric inpatient care to nonprofit family counseling agencies and private practice.

I see psychotherapy as a collaborative journey of discovery. Together, we explore the patterns, emotions, and experiences that shape your life, working toward insight, growth, and meaningful change. My approach is primarily depth-oriented, informed by psychodynamic theory, which means I focus on understanding the deeper influences behind your thoughts, feelings, and relationships—so you can move forward with greater clarity and resilience.

Goals of Depth Therapy

Inner Awareness— Depth therapy encourages exploring thoughts, emotions, and experiences that often operate outside of our immediate awareness.

Self-Integration— The process supports reconciling inner conflicts and fostering harmony among parts of the self.

Growth and Individuation— Are essential aims of depth-oriented work.

Personal Agency— This way of working supports clients in taking ownership of their inner experience and healing.

You may find these articles helpful for learning more about this theory and how it can be applied:

"Why It's Time to Take a New Look at Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy" (Forbes, February, 2015)

"Merits of Psychodynamic Therapy" (Harvard Mental Health Letter, September, 2010)

"Getting to Know Me" (Scientific American, November/December, 2010)

Whether you’re facing a specific challenge or noticing recurring patterns in how you relate to yourself and others, psychotherapy can support growth, insight, and meaningful change.

My approach to therapy is guided by your unique needs and goals. Together, we explore the patterns, emotions, and experiences behind your concerns, helping you gain insight, flexibility, and greater freedom in how you respond to life’s challenges.

Even more than any particular method or technique, the heart of therapy is the relationship between client and therapist. A good fit means feeling comfortable, heard, and understood—knowing that your concerns are met with respect, empathy, and complete confidentiality.

Learn About the Services I Provide

Areas of Experience

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Aging
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Anxiety
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Cultural Adjustment/Relocation
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Depression/Mood Disorders
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Spirituality
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Acute/Chronic Illness
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Life Transitions
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Couple/Marital Issues
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Relationship Issues
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Trauma
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Family Issues
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Grief and Loss
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Healthcare Work Environments
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High-Tech Work Environments
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Self-Care
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I believe that ongoing learning and professional growth are essential to providing the best possible therapy. To stay current and continually enhance my practice, I regularly participate in training through various organizations and institutes, such as:

Northwest Alliance for Psychoanalytic Study,

Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy (PACT) Institute,

Seattle Psychoanalytic Society and Institute and

WA State Society for Clinical Social Work.

If you have questions about my practice or would like to make an appointment, get in touch. I'd be happy to help.

Contact Me