Relational Therapy

I use relational psychodynamic therapy because I see the relationship we build together as the crucible of change: it acts as both a window into your interpersonal world, and also an arena in which you can try on new ways of being. We learn how to see ourselves and the world around in relationship, and this can become known and changed in relationship. In a non-judgmental, compassionate space, we contact and rework the dynamics that keep you feeling stuck, dissatisfied, and in pain.

Relational therapy understands that our relationships with others can be at the core of our unhappiness or happiness, and that life can only be lived with others. And yet-- living with others can be hard! How do we bridge these two things? By understanding *your* role in a relationship, you can focus on where you have control and make your life and relationships better.

I also work relationally, using the therapeutic relationship to help clients understand how it feels for them to be in relationship and to experience new ways of being in relationship that can translate to outside the therapy room.

I am a systemic thinker, and my schooling focused on the interactions between couples, families, and more than one individual (i.e., relational work).

Every dynamic I have with my clients is it's own unique relationship. So, it's important to make space for ways that a client and therapist can impact one another, and how our relationship can show up in the healing process. Relational therapy can illuminate aspects of a client's life and experiences that might be played out or show up in the therapeutic context. This technique also makes space for conflict, ruptures, vulnerable ways that client/therapist might affect one another, etc.

In relational therapy, the therapeutic relationship itself becomes a powerful tool for healing. I strive to create a collaborative, safe, and empathetic space where you can freely express yourself, feel heard, and work through difficult emotions. Through this connection, we can examine how your relationships with others mirror the relationship you have with yourself, helping you develop healthier ways of relating to both yourself and those around you.

As a relational therapist, what happens between you and me can sometimes replicate other relationships that you have in your life outside of therapy. As we get to know each other, we may look at how we are relating, and if we can find patterns in our relationship that are similar to other important relationships in your life. By looking at those patterns, we can sometimes find parts of you that are looking for some attention or healing.

My study of Relational Therapy began with some research work with Otto Kernberg and his interactions with an outpatient with borderline personality organization.

Counseling is not about me, and yet there I am, for every minute of every session. Recognizing the counseling dynamic as an important relationship plays out in several ways. It means having a consultation call to make sure we are a good fit. It also means that I may have to earn your trust before you feel safe, or I may share my own emotional reactions in session when helpful. Challenges that you encounter in your daily relationships may arise between you and I, and we’ll talk about that!

Trained to focus on therapeutic relationship, transference, and countertransference.

In a new electronic age connecting can be difficult. Connecting with someone long distance can be even more difficult. I work with couples that are trying to navigate more Lon distance relationships feel prioritized, create healthy habits and rituals with one another, and increase overall intimacy and blending of your lives together.

As you can imagine, relationships and connections are fundamental, regardless of how introverted or extroverted you identify. This therapy focuses on understanding patterns in past and current relationships, improving interpersonal dynamics, and enhancing healthier, more meaningful connections.

I truly believe the therapeutic relationship is a tool to be used in therapy. I think in order to heal our relationships we need to have a model of a relationship with healthy boundaries that you can depend on, and I try to cultivate that with the folks I work with.

Our damage happened through relationships with other people, so it needs to be healed through our relationships with other people. Our earliest experiences starting in the womb shape our bodies and our brains and impact how we are able to interact with the world around us. It takes repeated positive interactions in order to heal the repeated negative interactions that so many experienced as infants and toddlers.

As a Marriage, Couple and Family Therapist, I believe relationships are central to our experience of the world. We take into consideration the effects on each person's life of differences in power or equality as well as the impact of social issues such as class, race, gender, and culture. Relational therapy is collaborative and supportive.