Therapeutic Philosophy
In my previous career as an academic, I studied identity formation. I learned that we cannot understand the present if we do not understand the past. I investigated theories of human meaning, which lead me to the study of psychology. As a therapist, I have learned that it is through relationships that each of us is made. Our first relationships are in our families of origin. At the same time, families exist in communities. Social power relations and the meanings of personal identity markers like race and gender and sexuality are powerful informants, too. And as we grow, we take with us what we have learned about who we are and what we can expect from the world. Our important relationships, our families of choice, our work relationships, our relationships with our children, these are all places we continually search for and make meaning.
The therapeutic relationship is a place where this history and this present meaning-making can come together. In this unique relational space, we can use the power of human connection in order to explore, unearth, come to terms with, and improve on the patterns we have come to know.
I am interested in developmental trauma - the difficult past - and in working with individuals, couples, groups, and families to break unintentional cycles. I also work in the areas of gender, sexuality, and LGBTQ issues, whether these be about identity development, relationships, or parenting and family issues. Please see my work experience and publications list for more information.