Every adult I work with brings a lifetime of experiences and skills to build on. It may not feel like it right now, but I will help you find your strengths and build on your wealth of experiences to create the life you want for yourself.
Some of the situations I help adults with:
Anxiety
It’s human to worry sometimes. And worry has a place in our lives, keeping us safe from harm. But when we find our minds constantly spinning “what if’s” or avoiding situations where we could be enjoying ourselves, anxiety has the upper hand.
I can help you make anxiety work for you instead of against you. Once you understand how the anxiety cycle works, you’ll be able to respond in new ways.
Anxiety will no longer be a mysterious force that comes out of nowhere, but something you can predict and respond to with increasing confidence. Simply put, anxiety won’t have the same kind of power over you; you will feel empowered to make the choices that most nourish you.
You don’t have to get rid of anxiety, but it sure is nice to be able to greet it like an old friend, pat it on the back, and then move forward into the things that bring you joy.
Taming the Inner Critic
Most of us have an inner critic, a voice that tells us when we’re not measuring up. And most of us have pretty mixed feelings about that critic. On the one hand, it can be so harsh and full of judgement that it knocks us to our knees and makes us feel like we’re not worth the ground we stand on. On the other hand, we may believe that same critic is the only thing getting us up in the morning to do what needs to be done. We don’t quite trust that we have the wherewithal inside to move forward without that critic prodding us along.
What if that inner critic could learn to trust that you already have all the motivation and resources inside you that you need? What if, instead of ruling you with an iron fist, your inner critic could become a coach encouraging you along the way? I can help you transform your relationship with your inner critic to one that helps and sustains you. You don’t need to banish your critic; you can help it channel its gifts so that it truly nourishes you.
Self Acceptance
We all have an inner compass that points north to healing and growth. It may be covered with dust or grime but it’s still there, ready and waiting for you. It’s an honor for me to help you re-connect with this inner healer; the part of you that’s clear, that’s centered, courageous, and creative. I offer tools to help you tune in to what your gut and your heart are telling you in any given moment. I hold a mirror for your hopes and dreams so you can step into the vision you hold for your life.
I am passionate about helping you find your voice, become comfortable in your own skin, and bring your unique perspectives and gifts out into the world. The world needs you.
Grief and Loss
Loss is a part of life. At one time or another, we will all experience the illness, injury, or death of a beloved relative or friend.
Grief can be a lonely, frightening place. It can feel like you’re living in an alternate reality. I can help you make sense out of your reactions, so you don’t feel crazy.
You won’t overwhelm me with the intensity of your feelings—or your lack of feelings—or by repeating the same story you said last week. Sometimes in grief you need to say the same thing over and over. That’s okay. There is no one right way to grieve. Your way is the right way.
I know that sometimes grief feels like more than we can bear. I will walk the path with you as you grieve your loss. I provide a place where you can safely experience your grief, whatever it’s like for you.
Although grief has no timeline, its intensity and your relationship to it can change over time. Life may never be the same, but it is possible to appreciate living again.
Depression
It can be incredibly debilitating when the fog of depression is hanging over you. Depression convinces us it’s always been this way and it always will be. I think breaking the spell of depression is an act of courage. To take that first step, it can be enormously helpful to have someone outside Depression Land offering you a hand.
I would be honored to be that person for you. A lot has been learned in the past two decades about what helps and what doesn’t when we’re visited by depression. It is possible to come out from under the cloud and once again feel the warmth of the sun.
Life Transitions
Life is change. Sometimes the changes are welcome and exciting—a new job, a new love, a new city. Sometimes the changes are scary or even terrifying—the loss of a job, the loss of a relationship, changes in our bodies. But none of us get through this life without being changed by changes. It helps if we feel like we chose the change rather than the change being forced upon us without our consent. Yet even the changes we choose call upon us to weather newness, uncertainty, and shifting ground.
I can help you navigate through the uncertainties and doubts as you walk this path. I’ll be alongside, holding a steady mirror to help you stay connected to the values you cherish while you create a new vision for your life. We’ll find balance in being right where you are now, even in those moments when it feels like the ground has dropped out from under you. We’ll grieve the losses and celebrate the blessings. We’ll steer our way through the shoals of insecurity until one day you’ll find, surprised, that you’re in a new place; a place you helped create, a place where you can feel at home.
By the way, there’s a wonderful book that thousands of people have found to be a helpful road map in navigating transitions: Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes, by William Bridges, PhD. I highly recommend it!
