Therapists in Somerville, MA

You feel like you aren't living your best life and are ready to find out why. You're struggling to let go of the past, you are anxious, depressed, or suffering with symptoms related to trauma, low self-worth, addiction, or relationship problems. Maybe you feel like you are living your life on autopilot, just going through the motions. You want to prioritize yourself and are willing to make an investment in your mental health and wellness because deep down you know there must be more to life than just struggling and existing. It's time to (re) claim your authentic, resilient self!

Our unique life experiences influence how we relate to ourselves, and others. This is the lived lens through which we approach problems. We all have latent capabilities and skills to overcome challenges, but may find it hard to access them. It can be very helpful to speak with an objective person to gain insight and a better understanding of oneself. I work from an empowerment model, with a compassionate approach. I endeavor to build a therapeutic relationship founded on equality, trust and safety to achieve mutually agreed upon goals.

Life can be difficult and overwhelming. All of us have times when we struggle and feel alone or unclear about what to do. Entering into a therapeutic relationship is a courageous and powerful way to get unstuck and find a path forward. Since 1991, I have enjoyed working with adults and adolescents who come to counseling with a wide range of concerns, including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and chronic stress. I utilize both traditional and innovative therapeutic approaches based on your unique preferences and needs.

Therapy clients may be seeking insight, new ways of coping, relief from suffering, or to be less alone with life’s challenges. I draw flexibly from many approaches, and ultimately, I believe it is the relationship that heals, as well as learning to be a kind friend to oneself. I believe that good mental health means feeling you have choices and making them consciously. Many of my clients strive to be more fully themselves. My practice has a focus on the BGLTQ+ Community, especially trans, gender diverse, and polyamorous people, and I also tend to see a lot of geeky and neurodivergent people.

I value the therapeutic alliance, striving for a collaborative, flexible, and safe journey as we work together on your unique path. I use a holistic approach, implementing both traditional psychology and spirituality/metaphysics to help achieve your goals, develop coping skills, gain insights, and build a sense of empowerment. Common areas explored in my practice revolve around themes such as anxiety/depression, grief, life purpose, relationships, existential meaning, healing, and much more.

As a psychotherapist, I am continually committed to providing a safe and supportive experience for my clients. Using traditional and more current modalities I work to help people address behaviors that may affect interpersonal, relational, and career challenges. All are welcomed in therapy to learn new ways to manage the obstacles to personal social and occupational wellbeing. I work with people around longstanding issues of depression and anxiety, relationship difficulties, as well as adjustment to educational and career transitions.

The process of finding a therapist can feel overwhelming at times. I invite you here to briefly pause, take a breath, and bring some awareness into the sensations of your body in this moment. What do you notice? Are there particular thoughts, feelings, urges present? Perhaps you notice some hope or frustration, tension or ease. Seeing if you can allow space for whatever may be coming into awareness to simply be as it is, observing it with some curiosity and compassion. When you feel ready, re-connecting to what brought you here, to this page, and to this moment.

Individuals, couples or families I counsel are motivated to reach their potential, build healthy and meaningful relationships and make a positive impact. I help people who have had some success in personal or professional life but anxiety, stress, ambivalence, fear, conflict or difficult relationships are holding them back. Couples I work with want a thriving relationship but struggle with communication, deeper connection, shared reality or intimacy. Families want harmony but struggle with conflict, disconnection and/or a member with a mental/physical health problem.

GROUP & CLASS openings only. No Availability for 1:1 right now. You may feel stuck, repeat patterns that no longer serve you, or feel at a loss regarding how to change. You may have forgotten, or never realized, your purpose. You may be anxious about the future, or the past. In our work together my aim is to help you develop clarity, compassion & curiosity about the true sources of suffering in your life. Through compassionate self-inquiry we explore what gives your life meaning, & what's missing. Integrating insight-oriented therapy, internal family systems, CBT tools, somatic mindfulness, yoga, nutrition, & time in nature.

*Please note that I continue to be 100% distance based for the time being* It isn't always easy to reach outside of ourselves when we are feeling deeply lonely and experiencing extreme emotions. These are precisely the times, though, when it makes sense to try to find people with whom we can talk without too much fear of judgment or rejection. In my role as Therapist, I actively commit to strive to be one of those people; to meet you wherever you are emotionally, in a comfortable, confidential and respectful setting.

Relational Life Therapist. Cross cultural therapist. I help couples (and other dyads) get to the source of their issues and learn how to create the relationship they long for. Some dyads that see me may be on the brink of relationship rupture and dissolution. Some may be stuck having the same arguments with the same lack of progress and feel like Sisyphus with his boulder. Some may be ahead of the game and seek therapy before they ruin a good thing. All of them want to learn healthy relationship habits that stick. The individual clients I see often struggle with spiritual questions, self acceptance, and/or relationships.

As a somatic therapist, I’m trained to help you regulate your nervous system, work through trauma, and learn to process your feelings. Somatic experiencing is for people who have either been in therapy before and feel like they’re "talked out,” or who are new to therapy and want to try a more mind-body approach. This work is powerful and I’m so honored I get to share it with you and help you get to a more regulated place in your life.

If you're in a crisis, stuck, or at a turning point you'd like to leverage, a personal counseling retreat is uniquely impactful. It compresses 6-12 months of therapy into a week. The impact is also in the inspiring environment, and sustained process, which allows a deep and more cohesive process. There's time to connect many small dots to a bigger picture. Time to learn, understand and practice new cognitive and behavioral skills. And to cultivate mindfulness and perspective, to practice stepping back to watch distress arise, and then, importantly, pass. You come away with a lived experience of inner resilience, in mind and body.

It's finally time to make changes... It takes great courage to recognize that you're caught in patterns that keep you stuck and unhappy. And even more courage to reach out for support. I have worked with many people during difficult times to create meaning, ease and clarity in their lives, even in their darkest moments. I specialize in working with people who struggle with depression, anxiety, relationship issues, chronic pain, and eating disorders as well as those who suffer in the aftermath of trauma. I also work with the GLBTQ community.

Ready to make some changes? Sometimes it's really hard for us to ask for help-especially when you're strong & independent.Therapy is a great way to affect personal change, learn more about yourself, and grow through any challenges you might be facing.I help women through the transition of pregnancy, birth, & early parenting, and dealing with any postpartum mood issues. I also help women who want to change their relationship with food and their bodies. Clients also see me for managing anxiety & depression. For trauma work, I like to use Brainspotting/EFT. I also offer online therapy in MA, CA, CT, FL,& AZ.

Zoom video coaching only - Are you a busy human service or medical provider, clergy person, and/or activist in need of therapeutic coaching or spiritual renewal in these challenging times? With nearly 30 years of experience, I bring a wealth of grounded life experience to my coaching and accompaniment of you in your own life journey - including as a Unitarian Universalist clergy person, trained spiritual director, and licensed independent clinical social worker, as well a lecturer, author, and urban activist. I work solely via Zoom with the above listed professionals on a self-pay sliding scale basis. I do not take insurance.