Therapists in Ithaca, NY

Whether you are struggling with anxiety, trauma, attachment wounds, sadness, depression, anger, loneliness, stress, relational difficulties, parenting problems, postpartum anxiety, or postpartum depression, I am here to support you and give you tools to heal and improve. My orientation is scientific and evidence based. I use Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Mindfulness, Somatic Attachment, and Art Therapy and Movement to support clients in healing mind, body, spirit in a safe space.

Are you dealing with something that you are struggling to cope with on your own: stress, a depressed or anxious mood, communication problems with people in your life, trauma, grief/loss, relationship conflict? Counseling can help you find understanding and peace of mind. I am a skilled clinician who will offer you insight, support and understanding, and will be a warm and compassionate guide in your healing process. I am an active therapist, meaning I readily engage in conversation and problem solving, and see it as a privilege to walk with you on your journey to a more contented life.

I come to the practice of counseling after many years working in student services in a university setting. I find (as the research continues to show) that the most important element of effective counseling is the connection between client and counselor—we will work collaboratively. I draw on many approaches including but not limited to client-centered, attachment theory, existential therapy, mindfulness, solution-focused, trauma-informed, grief work, EMDR, and internal parts work.

I have been in private practice since 1990. I have a non-traditional approach to psychotherapy. I have a background in philosophy as well as psychology and draw on both disciplines for an understanding of human problems. I specialize in working with adults and young adults who seek to improve their lives through self-inquiry, whether those problems involve love, work or achieving personal goals.

In psychotherapy, we work together to understand the meaning of your symptoms and the sources of your pain. The therapeutic process is in large part a careful encounter with the past in the hope of getting beyond what happened to you and discovering who you are apart from your history. It also includes the exploration of your beliefs, emotions, protective strategies, recurring patterns, and relationship dynamics. From a stance of compassion and curiosity, we put words to your experience and what has been unsayable before.

Many of us look 'fine' on the outside, but inside it's more complicated than that. You may have feelings of uncertainty or insecurity, worry about some aspects of the future, or be dealing with fallout from the past. You may be struggling with challenging symptoms such as anxiousness, a sense of life dissatisfaction, or feeling 'low' much of the time. All of this is part of being a human in a complex time, and often this can be addressed by counseling. Talking and processing with another person can provide so much relief. I help by creating a safe space where you can feel free to, at your own pace, explore current challenges.