Welcome to my blog.
Life is hard for a lot of people right now, and unfortunately in the US mental health services can be very difficult to access. Especially if you hold any marginalized identities (which has been true for most of the folks I work with), it can be even more challenging to find accessible AND effective care.
In my experience across different settings, age groups, cultures, and formats, I have seen some major common themes bubbling up. As people bravely open up and share their stories of struggle, I often hear that underneath the surface, what is really challenging is that they don’t have a strong sense of themselves. They find it hard to understand what they’re feeling and why, what they really want, why they react a certain way, and why it is just SO HARD to change. Sometimes they have experienced traumas, or they were raised to put others before themselves. Many people are drowning in the flood of messages from the world around us about all the things that we SHOULD be doing, buying, and achieving. When it is inevitably impossible to meet these unrealistic standards, it is so easy to fall into the trap of believing that we are the problem.
I realized that almost all of my work falls under this umbrella. Better understanding yourself, your experiences, your habits, your different parts - there are so many different aspects to this. Then, being able to maintain your sense of self in the face of outside influences is a whole new ballgame. How do I be true to myself in my relationships? At work? How do I set healthy boundaries? How do I reassure myself that I, just as I am, am already enough?
I do need to add the disclaimer that this blog is not a substitute for professional therapy. Reading my blog does not constitute a direct therapeutic relationship between you and I, and mostly what I post will be educational and exploratory. I hope this blog will encourage you to reflect on your own and empower you to make positive changes in your life. I strongly believe that all people deserve the knowledge and opportunity to improve their mental health and well-being, whether they can access professional psychotherapy or not. I hope that my offerings will help you on your journey to find your way back to YOU.