Chances are, your life has changed quite a bit in the last few months.
Your thoughts and feelings about yourself and the World are no longer working for you. I get it. Life can often feel like a balancing act with no end in sight. We aspire to have the best career, partner, family, and friends, all while silencing the part of us that questions our choices and whether we really measure up. As obligations continue to grow, it can be hard to find the energy and motivation to do the things we have to do without sacrificing the things we want to do.
That’s where I come in.
I can help you to define and break through the barriers that block you from being yourself.
I strive to provide a culturally sensitive environment where clients can explore their relationships, careers, and identity.
Together we'll develop solutions to help you feel greater ease and fulfillment across every dimension of your life.
I’m the first to admit that I’m not the right therapist for everyone. If you’re looking for someone to endlessly agree with you, I’m probably not the right person. If, however, you’re ready to be challenged and willing to work just as hard as I am to achieve your goals, then we’re likely a good fit.
Drawing on principles from Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, Attachment Theory, Internal Family Systems Therapy, Mindfulness, Positive Psychology and coaching, we’ll partner to identify the thoughts and behaviors that get in your way. You’ll develop skills and tools that will help you now and in the future.
Together, we’ll cultivate the innate abilities that make you uniquely you.
Rather than tell you things you already know or can Google, we help you to understand your own unique systems and cycles, and help you change the way you engage with yourself, others, and the world.
We embrace:
Openness and acceptance rather than stigma and blame
Exploring and examining issues rather than oversimplifying
Patience and progress rather than short-term solutions
Courage and curiosity rather than denial and avoidance
together we can:
Develop and strengthen coping skills
Work through depression or anxiety, developing skills to improve functioning
Heal past and/or ongoing trauma
Explore the ways in which past relationships have been destructive
Explore loss of a loved one
Navigate life transitions
Alleviate symptoms associated with: Anxiety, Depression, PTSD & Acute Stress Disorder, Complex Trauma, ADHD & Executive Function Disorders
Treatment Methods
While the field of mental health is over 100 years old, it continues to grow and evolve. Similarly, Amita is committed to clinical excellence and lifelong learning. Many therapeutic perspectives and techniques contain useful components.
RATHER THAN OVER-IDENTIFYING WITH ONE THEORY WHICH WOULD BE VERY LIMITING, AMITA DRAWS FROM THOSE THAT WORK BEST WITH HER CLIENT POPULATION.
THESE INCLUDE:
+ Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)
EMDR is a treatment used to help process distressing memories and the resulting negative beliefs associated with those memories. The therapist employs bilateral stimulation (BLS) using eye-movements, buzzers, or alternating sounds while the Client recalls a distressing event. This reduces overwhelming feelings connected to the Memory and allows the Client to form adaptive, strengths-based beliefs about the Self. If appropriate, Amita uses this treatment during in-person and virtual sessions.
+ Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a skills-based treatment that focuses on the relationship between one’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. The therapist teaches techniques to examine and reduce unhelpful thoughts and implement new behaviors that result in the desired emotional and behavioral outcomes.
+ Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a skills-based treatment simultaneously focused on self-acceptance and change. The therapist validates the client’s experiences while teaching mindfulness, relationship, communication skills, and techniques to manage overwhelming emotions.This results in greater emotion regulation skills and improves interpersonal effectiveness.
+ Multicultural & Culturally Sensitive Therapy
These therapies consider the client’s unique experience and the intersectionality of their identities. The therapist brings a diverse cultural knowledge and curiosity as well as a sensitivity to the history of oppression and the politics of power. The need for this understanding may be based on characteristics such as age, beliefs, ethnicity, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and/or socioeconomic status.
+ Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT)
Animal-assisted therapy is used to enhance and complement the benefits of traditional therapy. Animals can provide a sense of calm, comfort, or safety. When appropriate, Amita is joined in session by certified therapy dog, Ollie.
+ Sensorimotor Therapy & Somatic Therapy
Sensorimotor and Somatic therapies integrate awareness of the body in addition to the processing of thoughts and feelings related to difficult or traumatic experiences. BY increasing attunement, the Client is able to recognize and regulate trauma within the body.
+ Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Internal Family Systems (IFS) increases self-awareness by exploring the different sub-personalities or “Parts” of the mind. By examining the relationship between these Parts, the relationship to the Self is nurtured and deepened. The therapist and client work together to understand and engaged previously disowned Parts in order to promote a Self-directed life.
+ Narrative Therapy
Narrative therapy helps the Client to examine the meaning they have assigned to their life experiences. The therapist aids the client by exploring, expanding, and deepening the Client’s understanding of themselves.
+ Relational Therapy
Relational therapy explores the role of relationships in one’s life. By examining patterns both in and out of session, the Therapist helps the Client to develop new beliefs and behaviors in relationships.
+ Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) is a time-limited psychotherapy that focuses on relieving emotional suffering by improving the client’s relationships and strengthening social supports. The therapist helps the client utilize their strengths to nurture and maintain positive and meaningful relationships.
+ Executive Function Coaching
The therapist works with clients to learn skills to better plan, organize, focus, and complete tasks. This form of coaching is largely concerned with organization, time management, and attention.
+ Career Counseling
Career counseling can be used to explore career decisions at any stage of life. Whether you’re clarifying and defining your ideal career, switching professions, or need help making a career-related decision, career counseling provides clarity and guidance.
+ Life & Wellness Coaching
Coaching is a strengths-based and behavioral approach designed to give you the clarity, tools, and motivation to maximize your personal and professional potential. This modality focuses on the tools and mental strength needed to sharpen skills, address a specific problem, or rid yourself of habits that no longer serve you.
+ Mindfulness Practices
Mindfulness-informed therapy employs present moment awareness to allow the Client to disengage from distressing thoughts and emotions. The therapist engages the Client using practices to increase non-judgmental observation of the body and mind.
+ Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing examines the client’s own goals and motivations to address a behavioral challenge. The therapist helps the Client explore their goals, reasons for change, and next steps with compassion and trust.
+ Positive Psychology & Strengths-Based Therapy
These therapies provide relief by increasing one’s focus on their strengths and positive life factors. The therapist helps the Client to focus on their internal and external resources resulting in improved emotional resilience.