If you suffer from anxiety, you are familiar with thoughts that cycle (AKA the hamster wheel). You also know all too well negative self-talk that takes the form of:

Your inner worrier, who promotes anxiety and asks, “But what if the worst happens?!”

Your inner critic, who promotes low self-esteem and sneers, “You’re a disappointment.”

Your inner victim, who promotes depression and laments, “I can’t, I’m helpless.”

Your inner perfectionist, who promotes chronic stress and burnout and declares, “I should…” and “I have to…”

The good news is that anxiety is treatable. We will work together to help you learn tools and develop skills to quiet those negative voices while strengthening and building positive inner dialogues to replace them. We also will focus on asserting and maintaining healthy boundaries while you gain a sense of calm and control. We’re here to help you every step of the way.

Everyone has experienced feeling down at some point. It’s not uncommon to be stuck in a cycle of hopelessness, and sadness. In many cases, these feelings naturally lift when situations change. But sometimes, these feelings linger and impact your daily life. When it becomes difficult to function, that is a sign of lingering depression. Together, we can assess the underlying causes and decide what steps can help you feel better. This may include:

Working with tools and techniques to ease your mind and regain your joy;

Use of mindfulness practices;

Incorporating time in nature and physical exercise;

Learning how to ask for what you need and set boundaries; and

Medication if needed.

We will support you in making the choices that you feel most comfortable with. Remember, depression is treatable, and you don’t have to struggle alone.

At some point, we all struggle with our self-esteem. It often begins in childhood. Perhaps you had a critical, emotionally distant, or absent parent; were bullied at school; or were shy, felt awkward, or less worthy than your peers. Events in childhood that erode self-esteem, if unresolved, can seep into every aspect of adult life. Self-doubt can affect your personal and professional relationships as well as your ability to reach for and attain your goals in life. Fortunately, there’s no need to let these childhood circumstances control your future. We can work together to gently uncover the source of your insecurities and then give you the tools you need to develop solid self-esteem and confidence.

Do you tend to avoid difficult conversations or have trouble saying no when you need to? Many people find it scary and difficult to set and maintain boundaries. The good news is that self-esteem and assertiveness are skills that can be learned and practiced in therapy. It can feel uncomfortable or even a little mean when you first begin setting safe and appropriate boundaries, and it’s normal to worry about how people will take it. That’s okay! We are here to support you so you can safely inform people that you are changing the way you interact with them to healthier and more sustainable patterns. As you practice setting boundaries in a supported environment, it becomes less scary and you can build on your successes. In the end, you will say to yourself, “Of course I deserve to ask to have my needs met and have healthy connections!”

Transitions are a normal part of life. Sometimes they are typical changes, like starting a new career or moving to a new city. But for some people, transitions are life-altering events, like becoming differently abled or losing a life partner. And for some in our LGBTQIA2s+ family, it might mean deciding that now is finally the time to start speaking to a therapist and untangle the thoughts, feelings, and fears about gender or sexuality.

We have created a safe space to reflect deeply and begin to feel comfortable in your body, with who and how you love, and in deeply understanding how you want to walk in the world. Although navigating life transitions can be an incredibly difficult journey, working with one of our understanding therapists will make it so much easier.

Codependence is a relationship dynamic where one person over-functions while the other person under-functions. For example, you might notice that you carry a lot of the emotional load in your relationships, you do more of the household labor, or you care for another person in ways that they really ought to be caring for themselves. Although codependence often happens with addiction or alcoholism, it can show up in many ways, with the codependent person feeling the urge to save or take care of the other person. How about those times when you have been all too happy to run the show so that things get done “right” (or done at all), even though you have felt resentful?

Breaking those relationship patterns has many benefits — easing the burden on you so that you can focus on taking care of yourself, and giving space for the other person to step up and take charge of their own life. It’s okay to care about someone else and share the load, but not when it comes at the expense of your own well-being. Taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of others. Let’s work together to identify the signs of codependence and find healthy ways to prioritize your own needs.

If you are questioning or struggling with your relationship to and with substances, it can feel overwhelming and daunting to consider stopping or reducing. Perhaps using substances has served a purpose before by numbing you when you were not able to tolerate challenging feelings or situations. When you keep using substances even after the challenge is in the past, it can become habit-forming and disrupt your life and relationships. Together, we can think through the role that substances play in your life — what is your relationship to using and what are the patterns of behavior that caused you to want and need substances. You will learn effective coping skills and explore lasting solutions to reclaim control of your life. And together, we’ll create a plan that may include abstinence or reduction of use.

Are you struggling to find your way back to a sense of inner peace after a significant loss? If you’ve been feeling stuck in your grief journey for longer than a year or if it’s starting to seep into other areas of your life, counseling can help you navigate these difficult emotions and find hope again. Let us hold space for you to feel and share the profound sadness that comes with loss. We can feel our way through this together.

We know that sometimes life can be tough and overwhelming. It can feel isolating when your struggles stem from your sexuality or gender identity, and it can be frustrating to need to explain or defend your identity to a therapist. That’s why we’re here, to offer a safe space where you can be accepted for who you are and completely understood.

At our core, we strive to help people heal from the deep wounds caused by cultural harm and oppression. Our mission is bigger than just providing care — we aim to be the catalyst for true liberation. We hold space and create a safe and understanding environment where you can begin to heal. We understand how heavy the weight of systemic oppression can be, which is why we take a deeply caring approach to our work. Our goal is to empower you and give you the tools to find your own path toward freedom and joy.

Gender

Imagine a world where you can be unapologetically yourself, where the weight of gender dysphoria no longer holds you down. It’s not just a daydream; it’s a reality waiting for you. You deserve to feel content and experience moments of pure joy. Let’s work together to find ways to manage gender dysphoria and help you feel free to express who you truly are. Believe in yourself — we do! — and let’s make your journey toward authenticity an empowering one.

We primarily see members of the LGBTQIA2s+ community as individuals who are processing their intimate relationships; however, we also work with consensually non-monogamous, polyamorous, and kinky folks who may or may not be part of the LGBTQIA2s+ community. You may have been exposed to negative messages about your desires and kinks. Our therapists can assist you in processing and recovering from the harm those messages cause. We also hold space for people who are not LGBTQIA2s+ but just want a non-judgmental therapist who gets you. 

Kink-Affirming

Consensual sexual exploration is a natural and important aspect of adult life, and we’re here to offer our support in making these experiences healthy and enjoyable. Our clinicians can help you navigate the terms and boundaries of your sexual experiences, if that would be helpful. Some people we work with want to learn how to tell the difference between abusive and consensual BDSM/kink dynamics, and you can discuss these things with your therapist. We can help you navigate your relationships, explore your desires, and empower you to attain ongoing and enthusiastic consent so you can embrace your kinky self with confidence, freedom, and authenticity. Let us help you foster a fulfilling and enjoyable sex life.

Polyamory and Ethical Non-monogamy

Polyamory and ethical non-monogamy offer individuals the freedom to explore love and authentic partnerships. Each relationship dynamic is unique, just as each person is unique. We live in a predominantly monogamy-normative society, and you may have been exposed to negative messages about relationship styles that are contrary. It’s important to recognize that being consensually polyamorous or ethically non-monogamous is healthy and means that you are open to exploring different avenues of love, connection, and intimacy. We embrace diversity and will help you honor your feelings and learn to communicate with your partners so that everyone feels safe, heard, and loved.