I am currently accepting new therapy clients.
Asheville, NC
EMDR and Somatic Psychotherapy in Asheville, NC
Therapy with Me
An axiom in my training is that, "The past is present, for better or worse." The imprints of past experiences, both positive and negative, have an enormous and often unconscious influence on our present-day experience—and our expectations of the future. My work, particularly in the context of Asheville counseling, focuses on helping you heal your relationship with the past and live into new possibilities.
It's natural to come into therapy simply wanting to "feel better." Symptom relief and coping skills are very important, especially in therapy for depression, AND they are not the sole focus of therapy. I support my clients in understanding the problems behind the symptoms, as well as the memories and learning that feed these problems. This process often results in a more empowered stance, and it also lays the groundwork for reprocessing the memories and experiences that keep us stuck.
Trauma survivors tend to carry a painful legacy of self-judgment. Developing curiosity about the impact of survival responses, adaptations, and distorted lessons allows us to release this shame and begin developing new, flexible adaptations rooted in the present. The greatest assets we have in this process are the natural healing capacities of the mind and body and the trust we can build with one another.
I will lead you into new experiences, but never force you. I will offer information when I sense it will help, but I seldom give advice. I am likely to interrupt you in order to direct your attention, but I will first listen deeply. I will encourage mindful “experiments” that yield new information about where you are stuck, how you got stuck, and how you can get unstuck through methods like EMDR psychotherapy.
What My Clients Are Dealing With
While we sometimes recognize that we have painful memories we'd like to work through, it's more likely that problems and symptoms, often addressed in Asheville counseling, get our attention.
Common expressions of post-traumatic stress include:
- disruptions to a normal sleep rhythm
- physical symptoms like chronic pain, tension, and headaches
- swings between feeling overwhelmed by distress and feeling numb
- irritability, anxiety, and depression
- difficulty regulating our attention (feeling obsessed, scattered, or both)
- detachment from, or preoccupation with, our important relationships
Common symptoms connected to injuries from important relationships include:
- an intense sense of personal responsibility, or crumbling under the weight of responsibility
- trying to control things or people in ways that backfire
- avoiding people and situations that arouse discomfort
- chronically feeling unsatisfied by the love with our family, partner, or children
There are no simple answers for any of these challenges. In therapy for depression, I will work patiently to understand these problems with you, not interpret them for you. Additionally, EMDR psychotherapy may provide a path to healing as we navigate these complex emotions together.
What to Expect from Therapy
Relief from suffering is a realistic and worthy goal for therapy, including Asheville counseling. At its best, however, successful therapy, such as EMDR psychotherapy, is defined not only by what it takes away but by what it creates. I invite you to picture yourself, as a result of your courage and commitment to this process, with a grounded sense of safety, empowerment, worth, and a capacity to give and receive love. These are not too much to hope for: they are what we are created for and can be achieved through effective therapy for depression.