How we relate to others and cope with challenges as adults reflects the world we lived as children.
Adulthood is a complex phase of life in which we are expected to operate independently, with a fully developed and well-rounded sense of self to guide us through life’s ups and downs. What lurks in the shadows of adulthood are often the unmet needs of infancy, childhood, and adolescence; the need to be seen, heard, supported, held, and unconditionally loved. Dysfunctional families, inattentive parents, and unsafe environments are among the many circumstances that can result in anxiety, depression, panic attacks, obsessive thinking, and compulsive behaviors. Unresolved pain and complex childhoods often hijack our adult lives. Psychodynamic therapy allows us the chance to regain control and live the way we were meant to.
What is psychodynamic therapy?
Psychodynamic therapy is both a theory and a method —a unique process in which the client is encouraged to delve deep into their psyche to better understand their presenting problems, behaviors, and unconscious motivations. With roots in traditional psychoanalysis, it combines modern evidence-based techniques with the understanding that our past is always present. This approach explores your whole self: early attachments and attachment style, family history, personality, and present day functioning.
Emotional and relational difficulties are all valid and inevitable parts of the human experience that are not only impacted by daily external stressors but also by our less obvious internal worlds. Our early life experiences, attachments, and memories create filters through which we perceive the world as adults and can interfere with our functioning, causing distress and limiting our potential. Psychodynamic therapy helps us understand why we act the way we do, why we feel the way we feel, and how to align our behaviors with values to reconcile deep internal conflict.
This process often cannot be done alone. With the thoughtful guidance, empathy, and empowerment of a therapist that creates a safe, non-judgemental space, you can exist as your most authentic self. The relationship with a therapist often leads us to better understand and foster our relationships with others. Only when we are fully seen and accepted by another is when we can fully see and accept ourselves.
Why Emerald?
Emerald Psychotherapy bears its name from the main tenet of our unique clinical approach: the belief that the therapeutic relationship, the bond created between client and therapist, is the strongest predictor of success in therapy. The blue and green hues in an emerald gemstone signify not only balance, reflection, and growth, but also a steadfast bond that is rock solid. It is unconditional and empowering always.
“Our work helped me understand my mind. The conscious and unconscious; everything underneath that I couldn’t make sense of by myself. That was liberating. I could finally breathe.”
— anonymous client
Meet the therapist
CREDENTIALS & PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Indiana University
Master of Social Work, Loyola University Chicago
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Illinois
Fellow of the Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis & Psychotherapy
Member of the American Association of Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work
Completed 200hr Yoga Teacher Training
Advanced certifications in CBT and DBT
I’ve always been fascinated by the why of human behavior and from a young age felt a natural inclination to listen closely and understand people on a deep level. This instinct led me to a career rooted in connection — guiding adults through a delicate process of self-exploration to navigate pain and conflict, and to live meaningful lives.
In working with people of all ages, I've come to notice a very distinct pattern among my clients. Regardless of what was bringing them to therapy, they were all needing and benefiting from a greater understanding of their hidden, internal worlds. By exploring their distress in the context of their whole being, I saw each of my clients find relief, peace, and clarity. Pain of any kind can make us feel broken, but I don’t believe in broken people. Emerald is a testament to the theory and method that allows people to connect deeply to the many parts that make them whole.
Originally trained in behavioral therapies, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Exposure Therapy, my clinical practice shifted to depth-oriented psychodynamic work when I saw and felt the lasting impact it was having on my clients. I have a special interest in the treatment of anxiety, complex trauma, relationship challenges and victims of narcissistic abuse. I hold certifications and advanced training in different modalities of therapy and theory, and am actively involved in individual supervision and group consultation. I’m a forever student of the human mind, including my own.
As a human I crave connection, and as a therapist I strive to connect. I work wholeheartedly to establish a safe and trusting therapeutic relationship that has a direct impact on my client’s lives. The pandemic allowed me to adapt my clinical work to meet the demand of online therapy services. My virtual door is always open; let’s chat.