My Approach
Through a systemic lens, my approach is guided not just by what's happening within you, but also by the larger context around you, such as your relationships, family-of-origin, including power differentials shaped by gender, race, socio-cultural influences, and intergenerational lineage.
Trauma, Change & Inner Conflict
Trauma is not just about what happened to you, but also about what happens inside you as a result, often within wider systems and circumstances. When you feel torn, stuck or not fully ready, I work in a structured, collaborative way that helps you make sense of that inner conflict and move toward change at a pace that feels safe and genuinely yours. This way of working is informed by my Level 1 Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) training (Janina Fisher), which shapes how I understand the imprint trauma leaves and the protective parts of us that form in response.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Many people already speak in parts language: “Part of me wants to leave, but part of me is scared.” IFS helps us work with those different parts of you with curiosity rather than shame, especially the protective patterns behind criticism, anxiety, shutdown or emotional numbness.
I have completed Level 1 training through the IFS Institute and am listed in the IFS institute directory. You can learn more about IFS therapy, including how we look at what these reactions have been trying to do for you, so you can feel less driven by old survival strategies and more able to act from a grounded, aligned self.
Relational Life Therapy (RLT)
Relational Life Therapy (RLT), developed by Terry Real, helps name the everyday patterns that wear relationships down, things like control, withdrawal, defensiveness, harshness or losing yourself in the other person. Where one partner is carrying more of the harm, RLT allows me to name that rather than stay even-handed about it. As you understand your part in the pattern, your relationships can begin to change too.
I have completed Level 1 and am currently completing Level 2 of the full RLT therapist certification through the Relational Life Institute.
Attachment & Relational Patterns
Our early relationships shape what we come to expect from closeness, conflict and care. Together, we use an attachment-based lens to explore how those patterns continue to influence trust, intimacy and communication now, so there is more space for safety, steadiness and connection in your present relationships.
Cross-cultural Attunement
Cultural identity and belonging shape how couples handle closeness, conflict and obligation, and those pressures do not resolve just because someone grew up here. I work with intercultural and bicultural couples and individuals, including second and third generation, where family expectations about loyalty and duty sit underneath the argument you think you are having. This is informed by my own bicultural experience.
Somatic Awareness & Nervous-System Support
Our bodies often carry information that is difficult to put into words. Stress can show up through tension, restlessness, numbness, overwhelm, shutdown or a feeling of being disconnected from yourself. Where it feels useful, I may invite gentle attention to your breath, posture, sensations and nervous-system responses. This is about building curiosity, choice and a greater sense of safety, so you can notice what is happening and respond in ways that feel more supportive and grounded.
We work at a pace that respects your capacity and autonomy. You remain in control of what we explore, and body-based awareness is always an invitation, not a requirement.
This work is also shaped by a culturally attuned lens, working with the body, not just the story.
To learn more about the philosophy behind the practice or the practitioner's credentials and training, explore these related pages.