THERAPEUTIC APPROACH

My approach to therapy is compassionate, collaborative, and strengths-based. I believe every person deserves a space where they feel heard, understood, and accepted without judgment. I meet clients where they are, creating a safe environment where you can explore your experiences, process difficult emotions, and develop the skills needed to create meaningful change.

I specialize in working with individuals who are navigating trauma, attachment trauma, substance use, addiction recovery, emotional dysregulation, and the lasting effects of difficult life experiences such as abuse, neglect, relational trauma, and challenging family dynamics. Many clients come to therapy feeling overwhelmed, stuck, disconnected from themselves, or uncertain about how to move forward. They may struggle with managing intense emotions, maintaining relationships, coping with painful experiences, or carrying feelings of shame, fear, sadness, or self-doubt.

My goal is to help clients understand themselves with greater compassion, recognize the patterns that developed as a response to their experiences, and build healthier ways of coping, connecting, and navigating life. Together, we will identify what matters most to you and develop practical tools that support emotional stability, confidence, resilience, and a stronger sense of self.

Areas of Clinical Focus

Personality Disorders, BPD & Emotional Regulation

I have a special interest in working with individuals experiencing symptoms associated with personality disorders, including Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). I understand that living with intense emotions, fear of abandonment, relationship challenges, identity struggles, impulsive behaviors, or difficulty regulating emotions can feel exhausting and overwhelming.

Many individuals with BPD have experienced trauma, attachment disruptions, invalidation, or painful relational experiences that have influenced how they view themselves, manage emotions, and connect with others. These patterns are often rooted in a desire to protect oneself and survive difficult experiences—not a personal failure or character flaw.

Therapy provides a space to explore these patterns with compassion and without shame. Together, we will focus on increasing self-awareness, developing emotional regulation skills, strengthening relationships, improving communication, building distress tolerance, and creating healthier ways to respond to overwhelming emotions and situations.

Using approaches such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and trauma-informed care, we will work toward greater stability, self-compassion, and a life that feels more connected and meaningful. My goal is not to define you by a diagnosis, but to help you understand yourself more deeply, recognize your strengths, and build the skills needed to create lasting change.

Attachment Trauma & Relationship Patterns

I also help individuals who have experienced attachment trauma and the lasting impact it can have on self-worth, emotional regulation, and relationships. Early experiences with inconsistent caregiving, emotional neglect, abandonment, invalidation, or unsafe relationships can shape how we view ourselves, trust others, manage emotions, and experience connection.

Many people develop protective patterns that helped them survive difficult experiences but may create challenges in current relationships. These patterns may include fear of abandonment, difficulty trusting others, people-pleasing, emotional avoidance, difficulty setting boundaries, or feeling overwhelmed by conflict and closeness.

Therapy provides a space to understand these patterns with compassion and curiosity while developing healthier ways of relating to yourself and others. Together, we will work toward building emotional security, strengthening self-compassion, improving communication, creating healthier boundaries, and developing more fulfilling relationships.

Substance Use & Addiction Recovery

I also work with individuals who are struggling with substance use, substance abuse, and substance dependence. I understand that addiction is complex and often connected to underlying experiences such as trauma, attachment wounds, emotional pain, relationship difficulties, stress, anxiety, depression, or unmet emotional needs.

Substance use often begins as a way to cope with difficult emotions or experiences. Healing involves understanding the patterns beneath the behavior rather than focusing only on the behavior itself.

Therapy provides a supportive, nonjudgmental space to explore your relationship with substances, increase self-awareness, identify triggers, develop healthier coping strategies, and build skills for long-term recovery. Whether you are questioning your relationship with substances, working toward reducing use, pursuing sobriety, rebuilding after addiction, or navigating the impact substance use has had on your relationships, therapy can provide guidance and support throughout the process.

Using evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and trauma-informed care, we will work together to address emotional regulation, relapse prevention, motivation for change, self-compassion, and the development of a healthier, more fulfilling life.

Emotional Eating & Bariatric Surgery Support

I also have a special interest in helping individuals who struggle with emotional eating, binge eating patterns, and the complex relationship between emotions, food, and self-image. Eating behaviors are often connected to stress, trauma, emotional experiences, and learned coping strategies.

Whether you are considering bariatric surgery, preparing for surgery, or adjusting to life afterward, therapy can provide valuable support throughout the process. Together, we will explore the emotional, behavioral, and relational factors that influence eating patterns, strengthen healthy coping strategies, and develop a more balanced relationship with food, your body, and yourself.

My goal is to support you in creating sustainable changes while navigating this significant life transition with confidence, self-compassion, and greater emotional well-being.

Trauma, Abuse & Emotional Healing

For individuals impacted by trauma, abuse, neglect, substance use, personality-related challenges, attachment wounds, or emotional regulation difficulties, healing is possible. Therapy can provide an opportunity to process painful experiences, develop healthier coping strategies, improve relationships, and create a life that feels meaningful and connected.

You deserve the opportunity to feel safe in your own mind and body, understand yourself more fully, and build a future that aligns with who you want to become.

Couples Therapy

In addition to individual therapy, I work with couples experiencing disconnection, conflict, trust concerns, and relationship challenges. Whether you are struggling with communication, intimacy, recurring conflict patterns, betrayal, or uncertainty about the future of your relationship, I provide a supportive space where both partners can feel heard and understood.

Together, we will explore the patterns that keep you feeling stuck, improve communication, rebuild trust, and work toward greater emotional connection and understanding. My goal is to help couples move from cycles of frustration and hurt toward healthier, more secure relationships—whatever direction their relationship journey takes.

Whether you are seeking support for trauma recovery, addiction, emotional regulation, personality-related challenges, relationship difficulties, or developing a healthier relationship with food and yourself, therapy can provide a path toward healing and growth.

You do not have to navigate these challenges alone. I am honored to walk alongside you as you work toward greater clarity, confidence, resilience, and transformation.

Populations Served

• Adolescents, adults, and couples. LGBTQ+ allied.

Specialties:

• Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) & Emotional Regulation

• Personality Disorders & Relationship Patterns

• Attachment Trauma & Attachment Wounds

• Substance Use Disorders, Abuse & Dependence

• Addiction Recovery & Relapse Prevention

• Trauma, Abuse & Neglect

• Developmental & Relational Trauma

• Emotional Eating & Food Relationship Concerns

• Bariatric Surgery Support

• Relationship & Couples Therapy

• Depression

• Anxiety

Treatment Modalities Used:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

• Internal Family Systems (IFS)

• Trauma-Informed Therapy

• Gottman Level 1 Certified

Availability

 Monday–Thursday. Daytime and evening appointments available.

Utah License: 9816592-3501 (LCSW)