Relational Therapy

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

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Sex Therapist, most of my training has been in working with couples and individuals on relational concerns. When I am meeting with a couple or an individual, I am always thinking about emotional wellness within the context of the relationships. I have training in Gottman Couples Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples, ACT Therapy for Couples, working with open relationships and addressing sexual concerns in relationship therapy

Relational therapy delves into the fabric of our interpersonal relationships and how they shape our mental health. This form of psychotherapy recognizes that each person's unique experiences within their relationships profoundly influence emotions and behaviors. I work with clients on all kinds of relationships in their life, friends, family, work relationships, and romantic relationships/partnerships.

This is my primary theoretical orientation.

We are in relationship with ourselves, our families, our friends, our partners, and our broader communities. I work with approaches like Internal Family Systems and Emotion Focused Therapy to help clients increase the quality of relationships they wish to have.

I often work with clients from a relational perspective which means that I look at their patterns of relating to others, and how these patterns often originate from relationships earlier in life. Even though they begin early in life, they often continue throughout life, and they may cause problems in adulthood. Once people are aware of the interpersonal patterns they are engaging in during adulthood, we are able to start working on altering them if needed.

We encourage you to view the therapeutic space as your “relational home,” where your experiences will be honored and held by our empathetic team of clinicians. Our goal is to collaborate to help you make meaning of your story, ultimately searching for opportunities for relief and personal growth. By embracing what happens in the therapeutic relationship, valuable information is gained and is helpful in our understanding of you and your opportunities for growth and healing.

I am relational and systemic oriented, as my work centers around people and their experiences in relation to themselves, others, systems, and the world.

We believe in the healing power of relationships. The therapeutic relationship can become an avenue to explore attachment wounds and traumas to help our clients feel seen and heard. We incorporate this approach into all of our work with both individuals and couples because we believe that relationships are at the core of all meaningful healing.

As a therapist, I am keenly interested in the art and science of being "in-relationship." Good, relational psychotherapy is able to utilize the rich, dynamic, and here-and-now nature of the therapeutic relationship for the patient's benefit. I have found that patterns in the therapeutic relationship can often mimic patterns in patient's other relationships. Relationally-focused therapy can offer a reparative experience for those who have suffered neglect, abuse, and other relational traumas.

Relational cultural therapy is my main lens of my work. I believe in authenticity with my clients and fostering that in my clients in order to live a fulfilled and meaningful life. Many mental health difficulties can come from internal or external events or ongoing issues that keep us from connecting with others in a meaningful way. With this, cultural context is incredibly important. It is all around around us and a part of us. It is pertinent to consider and work with diversity in everyway.

Relational therapy views the relationship with your therapist as the key to successful therapy. This relationship acts like a mirror, exploring how you interact with your therapist to learn about the patterns in your other relationships, identify the ramifications of such patterns, and find new ways of interacting with others. This therapy is ideal for those who push people away when they desire closeness.

As a Marriage and Family Therapist I am always steering couples and individuals towards relational health. Moving towards relational health can be challenging. Often it requires stronger boundaries which upsets the dynamics families and couples are used to. However, the rewards of relational health are living a more purpose, authenticity, and joy.

The therapeutic orientation that best describes me is Relational-Cultural Therapy. Counseling is all about the relationship between the client and the therapist. If we are not vibing or connecting, then the therapy will not be ideal. My goal is to understand you and collaborate with you. Together we can solve any problem that comes our way.

The primary reason I chose to become a marriage and family therapist is because I believe in the impact of relationships on our lives; therefore, I have spent the past several years consuming current studies on relational therapy.  I bring a curiosity to my practice that invites family dynamics, environments, friendships, and romantic relationships to have a role in one's identity.  I believe relational therapy techniques can be used with anybody - individuals, couples, families, etc.

A big piece of our work in therapy will be examining how you feel in your relationships. We all have a deep desire to be known and understood, yet sometimes we get stuck repeating the same patterns that keep us from being truly seen, heard, and known. In our work together, we'll learn about these patterns and come to understand them with compassion for how they developed in the first place. In doing so, you'll be able to let go of patterns & fears keeping you from what you want the most.

A relational approach to therapy means that I will operate as an active participant in your therapy. The foundation of this work is the relationship between you and I and the dynamics that manifest during our sessions as they illuminate and relate to your other relationships. I often use the immediacy of the therapeutic relationship with the goal of increasing awareness and discovering previously hidden processes and beliefs that undermine well-being.