I specialize in supporting women, LGBTQIA+ folks, young adults, and mothers, ages 18-35 who may be having difficulties with anxiety or simply need a safe space to talk about their experiences and their lives. My goal is to provide a welcoming, warm, and affirming place for you to process through not only your daily stressors, but to unpack some of your childhood experiences that may be manifesting in the present moment. I believe you are the expert on yourself and my role is to listen, validate, and work in collaboration with you to establish short-term and long-term healing goals. In addition to helping folks manage anxiety and day-to-day stressors, I also have training in treating trauma related to childhood abuse and neglect. If you are a survivor of childhood trauma, I will utilize a treatment system called Internal Family Systems as well as other trauma-informed approaches to assist you in processing through those experiences. Sometimes folks have not experienced childhood trauma, but they are noticing they experienced attachment injuries in childhood. I provide education around attachment theory and can provide insights towards how we can work together to begin to heal your “inner child”. Attachment injuries can often make adult relationships complicated where you may find yourself inadvertently sabotaging connections, not feeling as though you can open up or show your true feelings to others, or believing that others will ultimately abandon you. My role in these situations is to help you understand your attachment style and develop new strategies to move you towards a place of earned secure attachment, which in turn may help you feel more comfortable in trusting and connecting with others. Last, I am interested in understanding how macro-systems impact the lives of individuals. We do not exist in a vacuum; our lives are deeply impacted by our social contexts. I work with individuals who are interested in deconstructing their social environment in order to feel more empowered and free. I utilize Feminist, Postmodern, and Queer-Allied therapeutic approaches to understand how identity intersects with power and oppression. I also have some experience in working with survivors of religious trauma. I utilize Mindfulness Based approaches to assist these survivors with maintaining a sense of interconnection to the universe and their understanding of a higher power. I also believe creative expression is a vital part of the healing process. I integrate art, movement, writing, meditation, and music into therapy sessions as well. My role is to tailor our discussions and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and peaceful life takes tremendous courage. I am deeply honored to support you in your healing journey! I have training the following treatment approaches: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Mindfulness Based Therapy, Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI), and Feminist Therapy. Unfortunately, due to limited knowledge and training , I am currently NOT able to address the following concerns: substance abuse and dependency, any and all addictions, divorce, custody disputes, self-harming behaviors within the past year, disordered eating, anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Borderline Personality Disorder, severe depression, anger management, domestic violence, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, ADHD, or if you have experienced suicidal thoughts within the past year. If we begin working together and it seems that you are in need of a therapist with more training or experience, I will ensure you are connected with a better fit! Here is a little more about my therapeutic experience: I have worked in a variety of clinical settings including a non-profit, day treatment program, and an inpatient psychiatric hospital. I have experience with providing individual and family therapy. During my time at the inpatient psychiatric hospital, I provided hospital wide trainings for nursing and direct-care staff about trauma-informed care. I have worked as a researcher and adjunct professor of psychology as well. Publication: Karcher, McClatchy, Borsuk (2016). “Pair Counseling to Promote Social Competencies Among School Age Children”. Play Therapy in Middle Childhood. A.A. Drews and C.E. Schaefer (Editors). American Psychological Association. Some Fun Facts about Me: I love being outdoors. I like to go for hikes and camping trips with my husband. I enjoy reading and listening to podcasts. I’m a huge animal lover! I have 3 dogs and 2 cats who frequently join my sessions (if you have pets, they are welcome and encouraged to join our therapy sessions too!) I’m a big coffee drinker and love to visit local coffee shops. To relax, I enjoy tarot, meditation, yoga, and long walks. I like to do floral arrangements, write, and dance for fun. I’d describe myself as whimsical – I love astrology, poetry, and art. At the same time, I love science! I enjoy learning about neuroscience, animal behavior, and astrophysics. I like learning – especially about people!