Therapists in Sunderland, MA

I work with adults from many diverse backgrounds and with a wide variety of therapeutic goals. I specialize in working with people who struggle with low self-esteem, those who suffered childhood abuse and/or neglect, who are interested in healing their ancestral and intergenerational trauma patterns, relational and attachment issues, and codependent tendencies. I also support clients who are becoming leaders or need help navigating the tricky waters of being a leader, are wanting to step into their creative potential, or are interested in living life outside the box.

Whether you are facing a crisis, feeling a vague sense of unease, or suffering from long-standing issues with anxiety, depression, self-esteem, trauma, relationships, or addiction, I can help you find greater awareness and identify tools you can use to achieve healing and greater meaning in your individual journey through life. Using my expertise in applying cognitive, expressive, and mindfulness-based techniques, I can assist you in self-discovery, personal growth, and transformation of self-defeating attitudes and behavioral patterns. I now offer online counseling on a HIPAA-secure website, doxy.me and have availability.

I am a holistic therapist, meaning that I focus on the whole person. I help adults in a warm, supportive way - starting from where you are and basing therapy on your specific needs. Some of the skills I can offer therapeutically are meditation, mindfulness, art-making, EFT(Emotional Freedom Technique), Inner-Bonding®, re-evaluation counseling, spirituality, empathy, humor, deep listening and body awareness. I create a safe space to feel, express, and work on personal growth. My goal is to create a calm, thoughtful, creative environment to help guide you in working through life's challenges.

Let's work together to help you feel better. I have been providing therapy to adults from diverse backgrounds (with an emphasis on college- and grad-school-age adults) for 14 years and recently relocated to Northampton. I have an MA in clinical social work from the University of Chicago, with advanced training in CBT, DBT, ACT and trauma treatment. I specialize in self esteem and self confidence, anxiety, depression, relationship to self and others, and healing from various types of trauma such as physical, verbal, and sexual abuse.

I am a licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT: Drama Therapy). I work with kids, teens and adults on self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and trauma-related issues. My strengths-based approach is grounded in the person-centered, unconditional positive regard for the client, and the belief that they have the ability to find their own answers, shift their thinking, change their negative patterns and empower themselves as experts in their own lives. In addition, I draw from other approaches that include Drama/Psychodrama, Creative Arts, Narrative, and Trauma Focused work.

Relationships in Crisis: We Have Several Private Couples/Marriage Workshops & Individual Sessions, in order to Rapidly Accelerate Your Healing & Your Communication Process (Traditional 45 min. session Simply Does Not Work). During these 2 to 4 weeks, we will see both of you Together & Individually, as well as Help each of you Learn the Art of Empathy, Sensitivity & Compassion. These Workshops are Informative & Powerful, in order to Accelerate the Healing Process & Stop any further Damage from Occurring. In Addition, Our Success RATE is 85% of Our Couples that have Successfully Completed Our Couples Workshops or Alcohol Treatment.

As Pema Chodron writes: "things are always in transition, if we could only realize it." Life's fluctuations are not easy, but I believe acceptance and self-kindness are essential to growth. Our ebbs and flows make things like our self-esteem hard to stabilize, but therapy can give us a truer evaluation of our worth.

So much of life--its changes, its challenges, its day-to-day stressors--can feel overwhelming at times. This overwhelm can create feelings of stuckness, aloneness, or hopelessness that inhibit us from living the lives we wish to live. The wonderful news is these are not permanent conditions. I believe deeply in the healing potential of therapy to free us from emotional overwhelm, reconnect us with our inherent power and inner peace, and grow us in profoundly energizing ways.

*****PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS****** I am an experienced (20 years) psychotherapist with an intuitive, down to earth style. I specialize in LGBTQIA+ issues, relationships, body image and self-esteem, sex and sexuality, working through trauma and family of origin issues, depression, anxiety, first responders and vicarious trauma, creativity and self-expression, and gender variance and transition. My work is relational and is rooted in an awareness of social and cultural realities. I provide a safe, stable, warm environment in which to explore and address your concerns.

Offering Telehealth Appointments in New York, Massachusetts, and In-Person in Northampton, MA. If you feel stuck and want to break out of old patterns, you don't have to go it alone. In a safe space that we co-create, you'll learn to identify outdated ways of living that helped you survive, and develop new ways to thrive and expand healthy choices. As the Clinical Director of a group practice, we have multiple therapists offering this approach starting at $140/appointment. Reach out to explore options and learn more about our other therapists and fee ranges at www.SomaticPsychotherapyGroup.com

I offer a compassionate environment in which to heal and transform, beginning with embracing what IS, which allows for a more relaxed, gentle, clear and effective approach to our difficulties. Much of our emotional suffering stems from a disconnection from ourselves and our relationship with life. The work I offer facilitates a deep, authentic connection with oneself through somatic, experiential and psychodynamic work, self-inquiry, mindfulness and the support of the therapeutic relationship. Essentially I see that each person I work with has the full potential for healing already on board. We work to uncover and access that, so that full aliveness is restored.

Thank you for your interest - my practice is currently full. You are not alone if your child is struggling or your family is experiencing anxiety, stress and conflict. Many parents in today’s uncertain times feel overwhelmed, exhausted and unsure of how to help their child thrive. When our kids are having a tough time, our most important work is often on ourselves. Seeking support means you are prioritizing your family’s health and mental well-being. Together, we’ll explore how to achieve greater emotional balance, strengthen connections and increase joy, all of which will improve the emotional climate within your home.

Support and empowerment are the foundation of my work with clients. I center my approach in grounding clients in their strengths and guiding them in building skills to achieve more fulfilling relationships, navigate transitions, and overcome obstacles so they can move forward with more clarity and confidence. Whether you are seeking support in your healing process or on a personal growth journey, we'll work together towards your goals for improved wellbeing - emotional, physical and overall life satisfaction.

Dr. Smith is a licensed clinical psychologist who enjoys working with adults of all ages who present with a range of difficulties, including depression, anxiety, major life transitions, loss/ grief, histories of acute or complex trauma, or low self-esteem. She is concerned with understanding the whole person with whom she is sitting, and not solely their symptoms. This stems from a belief that psychotherapy is useful not only for reducing suffering; it is also a dynamic process from which a deeper sense of self, increased confidence, and meaningful life changes can emerge.