Therapists in Penfield, NY

Welcome! I am dedicated to helping you through personal, family, and health difficulties with empathy and expertise. At WHOLE, guiding you to your "best self" is our absolute priority. My style of mentoring is client centered and solution focused, giving my clients the opportunity to explore their struggles, find their strengths, and get what they want out of life. We can't wait to offer you hope for the future that can change your life and health long term. Call 585-524-0008 to book your first session within 7 days!

I am dedicated to helping you through mental health, family, and couples issues with empathy and expertise. Your first session will always be offered within 7 days, and guiding you to your "best self" is my priority. As owner of practice Whole Wellness Services, I have designed a treatment team of experts that are solution focused and utilize evidence based practices while retaining a holistic philosophy. Individuals that come to us for therapy are looking for help with getting to a more joyful place and alleviating symptoms or behaviors that may be holding them back from doing so.

I have been in the mental health field for five years with a master’s in mental health counseling and, currently, obtaining my doctorate in counselor education. I have worked with a plethora of symptomatic presentations, but my specialties lie in cutting-edge practices of chronic pain and mind-body disorders, sexual disorders, and trauma/PTSD. Prior experience in domestic violence and sexual assault crisis counseling, along with community advocacy for mental health services. I view health holistically: mind, body, and spirit. I have a deep understanding of how our mind and body effect one another; overall health is my priority.

I believe we all share the need to be deeply understood, especially during difficult or challenging times. I appreciate the courage clients show when they share stories of their lives. Without fail, I find these stories layered, complex, unique and moving. I admire clients who dare to share life stories that are "works-in-progress" -- messy, drafty, tentative. Stories with icky parts (that's a technical term!)... or tender parts...or broken parts... or out-dated parts. Stories with gaps -- spaces -- where yet-to-be-written parts will go. .I believe this process leads to healing and transformation.

The basis of any good counseling relationship is finding someone you connect with & who seems to "get you". I strive to provide an environment that facilitates trust, respect, compassion & understanding for your uniqueness. I work in a proactive, collaborative, flexible & transparent way. I am direct & open, offer honest feedback & insightful challenges. I help you search for maladaptive patterns & work with you on trying intentional new approaches. I believe everyone has core strengths that with the right support & guidance will serve as a foundation for more self-confidence, healthier relationships & increased self-fulfillment.

Hello, thank you for visiting, I am so happy that you are taking this first step. If you struggle with the direction your life is going, or your symptoms are keeping you from healthy relationships, work, and living life to the fullest; I want you to know that change is possible. Therapy can help you cultivate the life you want and deserve by implementing validating, compassionate, solution-focused healing. My specialization is in attachment, dissociative disorders and trauma. My interventions are based in neuroscience and research. Brain Spotting, Internal Family Systems, Schema, Shadow work, Cognitive Therapy, DBT, and EMDR.

Over thirty years of experience partnering with clients of all ages, from a wide variety of backgrounds, has confirmed for me each person has within themselves the resources and ability to become the person they wish to be and to improve their satisfaction in life. As a therapist I partner with each client helping them to identify patterns of thought and behavior that are no longer effective and guide them in discovering new, more rewarding ways of relating and connecting with others. I work collaboratively with clients to solve problems, connect with strengths, and reach their personal and professional goals.

Often our deepest wounds have relational origin. Despite our best efforts to create change, we can often feel overwhelmed and defeated amidst the demands of each day. By focusing on developing a healthy relationship between therapist and client, we can create a secure space to understand your concerns more fully. Over time, the hurt and pain can be found and even transformed.

When working with clients, I use an eclectic approach, which means that I am schooled in many theoretical orientations and have mastered an infinite number of skills. I draw from the knowledge I possess to adapt my approach to the person or people in front of me. I believe that the most important part of the therapeutic process is the relationship between the therapist and the client/clients. Building rapport and establishing a relationship based on acceptance, empathy, honesty, safety and trust with my clients is my first priority as the therapist. One of my innate skills is being non-judgmental.

When I first became a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist 19 years ago, our understanding of how past traumas and attachment wounds affected us in the present, and how to effectively treat trauma and attachment wounds was very minimal. Since that time, extensive research, studies, theories and practices have broadened our knowledge of trauma's impact on the mind and body and expanded the variety of tools and resources available to support therapists. I can honestly say I have never loved my work as a trauma/attachment-focused therapist more than I do right now.

I believe that each person holds within themselves everything they need to heal and grow in the ways they would like. I see the therapist's role as being one in which provides an environment of safety and care where the client can explore themselves authentically. It is through this authentic exploration, that the therapist can help the client discover how patterns and ways of being are keeping the client stuck and resulting in suffering. By bringing into awareness these aspects, the client and therapist can then work collaboratively to release the pain and explore new ways of being.

Psychotherapy is at its best when a client and therapist work as a collaborative team. Together with my clients, I work to create an environment that facilitates an understanding not only of their struggles, but also of their strengths as they move toward their goals. My approach is both direct and open, and compassionate and flexible. I have an appreciation of the whole person in the context of their relationships, and bring these ideas to my work. Each client is unique and I strive to provide a therapy experience that is designed for the unique qualities and situation that each person brings.

I am currently not accepting new clients as my caseload is full. If you’d like, please contact me for recommendations of other therapists that specialize in the same areas as myself. I am dedicated and passionate about walking with clients on their journey to healing. The resilience of the human spirit humbles me. I am client-centered in my approach and strive to create a therapeutic environment and relationship that is founded in trust, genuineness and positive regard. I work closely with clients to help them connect with the moment and their values to gain insight, understanding and self-compassion.

You might be reading this because you are trying to understand your pain, and what you can do about it. Perhaps you sometimes feel empty and numb, or feel flooded with overwhelming and confusing feelings. You may have attempted changes, but see the same problems again and again in your relationships. Maybe you long to find a sense of meaning, or to feel more fully alive. These are common, human, difficulties. Healing old wounds is a challenging, meaningful process. If you are committed to change, it will be helpful for you to find a supportive space to do this hard work. Together, we can make your healing and growth a priority.

Relationships and trauma are my focus. I work with couples and individuals to help create more security in how people relate to themselves and those around them. I have a substantial capacity for being present with people working with extreme emotions and painful conflict; providing insight and modeling compassion. Blending therapeutic approaches with mindfulness and grounding techniques, I focus on the here and now to help clients recognize and work on their patterns as they arise in the moment. My experience addressing the socialization of men in our culture and masculinity issues also aid the self-discovery and healing process

Please note that I am currently not able to accept new clients at this time. Therapy, at its core is about self-discovery. Through a process of curious and compassionate inquiry into the truth of our situation, we gain insights that open space to unencumber ourselves. Often, what we had initially seen as problems can dissolve altogether. I like working with people whose lives have reached an impasse where they need to generate new options to untangle their dilemma. What we need to realize is that the predicament is, ultimately, the doorway to a greater understanding and fulfillment of our lives, both inner and outer.

I have been doing counseling and psychotherapy for over thirty years. I enjoy working with individuals and will include their significant others, including spouse, partners, family members, friends and (yes) pets. As I see it, my job as a therapist is to work with you to create an environment in which you will feel emotionally safe, and one in which you can feel OK talking about all aspects of yourself. This allows us to use your personal strengths and resources to resolve your difficultes so you can become more like the person you want to be.