Psychotherapy
The transition to parenthood—contemplating, preparing for, entering, and navigating parenthood—can be a time of adjustment, emotional instability, and profound change.
Also, the transition to parenthood can be extremely triggering and can shake our own mental health hornets’ nests. Many folks choose to initiate or re engage in therapy as they become parents in order to address unresolved feelings about their own families of origin, relationships, sense of self worth, and patterns in relationships. As we navigate through stressful and hard times in the course of our lives, some of us shove our feelings to the side or into a mental closet of sorts, and at some point, the closet gets too full, and the door pops open and a whole mess falls out… and yes, the closet door often falls open during the transition to parenthood. In therapy, we go through the content of what’s falling out everywhere and figure out how to engage with it, deal with it, and put it away in a sustainable way so that it’s not falling out everywhere and making a mess to trip on.
Folks who are children of immigrants and/or who are in multiracial or multicultural families-- as well as folks with trauma histories-- may feel like they are bushwhacking-- trying to figure out how they want to parent without models of what this looks like. While I may not have the answers, I can provide a supportive space while folks create their paths and navigate their journeys.
- Maybe this transition isn’t what you expected or hoped for.
- Maybe you’re trying to figure out how to parent differently than you were parented, and all of this bushwhacking is exhausting without models or support.
- Maybe you are struggling with unresolved grief and loss.
- Maybe you’re a child of immigrants and are wrestling with narratives of what it means to be a “good” parent.
- Maybe you’re in a multiracial or multicultural family and are unsure of how your own identity fits in.
- Maybe you’re overwhelmed by parenting while processing your own interpersonal, racial/cultural, and/or intergenerational trauma.
- Maybe everything feels new and messy and uncertain and exhausting.
- Maybe you want to feel like you’re not doing this alone.
Also, the transition to parenthood can be extremely triggering and can shake our own mental health hornets’ nests. Many folks choose to initiate or re engage in therapy as they become parents in order to address unresolved feelings about their own families of origin, relationships, sense of self worth, and patterns in relationships. As we navigate through stressful and hard times in the course of our lives, some of us shove our feelings to the side or into a mental closet of sorts, and at some point, the closet gets too full, and the door pops open and a whole mess falls out… and yes, the closet door often falls open during the transition to parenthood. In therapy, we go through the content of what’s falling out everywhere and figure out how to engage with it, deal with it, and put it away in a sustainable way so that it’s not falling out everywhere and making a mess to trip on.
Folks who are children of immigrants and/or who are in multiracial or multicultural families-- as well as folks with trauma histories-- may feel like they are bushwhacking-- trying to figure out how they want to parent without models of what this looks like. While I may not have the answers, I can provide a supportive space while folks create their paths and navigate their journeys.
Therapy with me
I believe that the therapeutic relationship is a primary intervention during therapy, and this alliance is the foundation for the work we do together. As a therapist, I have no crystal ball, magic wand, or fast-forward button; rather, my role is to listen, bear witness, and provide active support as clients unpack, examine, and reflect on their experiences. I often tell clients, "don't carry heavy things alone; bring that heavy stuff here and dump it all out, and we can go through it together, make sense of it, and figure out how to deal with it in a sustainable way." Also, while I utilize numerous modalities such as EMDR, CBT, DBT, and mindfulness, I integrate the larger context of oppressive systems into how I process feelings and reactions with clients. You can read more about me and my clinical approach here.
I specialize in working with folks who identify as people of color, folks who identify as first or second generation immigrants, and folks who are in multiracial/multicultural partnerships as they navigate the transition to parenthood and building a family. Experiences and narratives based in race, culture, and proximity to immigration often affect how we parent and how we conceive of the parenting role.
I also specialize in working with folks who are experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders such as depression, anxiety, OCD, and PTSD. Emotional complications are the most common complication of childbirth, and nearly 1 in 5 people will struggle with a condition like depression or anxiety during pregnancy or the first year of their child’s life. If you're struggling during pregnancy or in the first couple years of parenting, you are absolutely not alone, and support is available.
If you're interested in psychotherapy with me, please contact me.
I specialize in working with folks who identify as people of color, folks who identify as first or second generation immigrants, and folks who are in multiracial/multicultural partnerships as they navigate the transition to parenthood and building a family. Experiences and narratives based in race, culture, and proximity to immigration often affect how we parent and how we conceive of the parenting role.
I also specialize in working with folks who are experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders such as depression, anxiety, OCD, and PTSD. Emotional complications are the most common complication of childbirth, and nearly 1 in 5 people will struggle with a condition like depression or anxiety during pregnancy or the first year of their child’s life. If you're struggling during pregnancy or in the first couple years of parenting, you are absolutely not alone, and support is available.
If you're interested in psychotherapy with me, please contact me.