Therapy and Counseling Services

My Availability

I am currently accepting new clients. Please call me at (207) 846-1008 or send me a message via my Contact Page to set up an appointment.

Theories I Use

Underlying all the types of therapy I use is a client-centered approach. This means that you are in charge of your therapy and have the right to understand what I am doing and why. I might lead you in a direction I think will be helpful, but you get to choose whether you follow or not. That being said, I am honor-bound to give you my clinical opinion. I have been trained in many different theories, therapies and modalities and have woven these into an eclectic style that works for many people. Of course everything I’ve learned over my years of graduate work, post-graduate study and practice inform how I work with clients on a daily basis, and I incorporate principals from mindfulness, non-violent communication into my work and sometimes include, books, writing, music, artwork, podcasts, and other modalities into sessions based on client interests. I have been specifically trained in the following therapies that have proven successful for my clients, and I tend to focus on these.

EMDR (Eye Movement and Desensitization Reprocessing)

EMDR (Eyes Movement and Desensitization Reprocessing) therapy was developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in the late 1970s and has a body of evidence to support its use. Since then studies have corroborated her original research: people with PTSD who have EMDR treatment fare better than people in control groups who do not. EMDR treats many issues besides classic PTSD. Any traumatic event that negatively impacts your daily functioning and quality of life, can be considered a trauma. If you have experienced something like this, you could be helped by EMDR.

EMDR Therapy has been endorsed by the American Psychiatric Association, U.S. Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs as well as Health and Human Services, and a number of other national and international organizations.

Polyvagal Theory

When I was trained in PolyVagal Theory, I immediately saw the value in it not only for people with trauma histories, anxiety, or depression, but also for most anyone who is a human being. In fact, I like to say that learning PolyVagal Theory has not only changed how I do therapy with people, but it’s also changed how I live my life. PolyVagal Theory can seem a little daunting at first because of its biological roots in the functioning of the Autonomic Nervous System. Truly I didn’t have the intricacies of the ANS completely figured out until the end of my first one-day training. After that, I moved on to a two-day training. Then wanting to know more, I registered for an intensive-six-month training as soon as I heard about it. I love using Polyvagal Theory with clients for a few reasons. First of all, it teaches us about our ANS which controls how we react to the people and environments around us; secondly, it teaches us that over-reactions don’t come from our brains, but from whether or not our ANS tells us we are safe or in danger; and thirdly it comes with a set of skills to teach us when to listen to our ANS and how to override it when it hijacks us. These three things all add to making us feel safe in the world. Who doesn’t appreciate that?

DBT (Dialetical Behavior Therapy)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) was developed by Marsha Linehan in the late 1970s and has a body of evidence-based research to support its use. It teaches clients four skills sets to help them accept emotions, thoughts, and body sensations and to change negative thinking patterns that keep them stuck in old behavior patterns that no longer work. I often use DBT to teach clients new coping skills and enhance the ones they have before moving on to trauma processing. It is an effective treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder for which it was developed, PTSD and trauma, depression, anxiety, behavioral addictions and social anxiety among others. DBT stresses the importance of meeting clients where they are and allowing them to move at their own pace. Dialectical means bringing together opposites, here the emphasis is on helping clients find the middle ground between acceptance and change.

Insurance Options

I accept the following insurances: