I use a very integrative approach when working with clients. I believe that there is wisdom found in all of the different modalities of therapy. However specific models work better for different people in different circumstances. Using an integrative approach allows me to meet the unique needs of each of my clients. With that said, below are some of the primary models I use (this is not an exhaustive list).

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a therapeutic model that addresses the different parts of ourselves with the goal of integration. IFS is a powerful modality that allows you to address parts of yourself without shame and reintegrate the parts of yourself you have exiled. This approach helps to externalize things that feel too overpowering.

We are meaning making people. From birth we are interpreting the world around us and making sense of what we see and how we fit into the story. However, we do not always have all the information (especially as children) none the less, the stories we tell ourselves have a formative impact that are still affecting us today. Narrative Therapy allows us to explore these stories in a new light and better understand the impact it is having on our lives right now.

We start forming our attachments to our primary caregivers from birth. This formative attachment sets the framework of all of our other relationships. For some this means means they have a healthy and stable way of relating to others, for others this can be a source of pain and the genesis of relational issues. Thankfully we are not static beings but able to change and grow with hard work - this is true even for our attachment.

As a Marriage and Family Therapist one of my focuses is on the entire system (family, community, etc) and how those are affecting the current dynamics. Understanding the system allows us to better understand all the factors at play and how they are affecting us (consciously or unconsciously). This approach holds that we are not isolated beings but influenced by those around us and the systems we come from and find ourselves in. Understanding the system we came from and are in now helps us understand how we were formed and the part we are playing.