How I help

What trauma can feel like

Trauma isn’t only about one terrible event. It can come from years of not feeling safe, seen or cared for. Its effects often live in the body as much as in memory.

• Always being on edge, or scanning for what might go wrong
• Reactions that feel bigger than the moment
• Feeling numb, shut down or far away from yourself
• Trouble sleeping, trusting or relaxing
• Patterns in relationships you can’t seem to break

Where it can start

When we don’t get the attunement we need early in life, we adapt. Those unmet needs can show up later as people-pleasing, perfectionism or shutting down. These patterns aren’t flaws. They made sense once.

How we work together

You set the pace. You won’t be pushed to retell every detail. We start by building safety, in the room and in your body, before we go anywhere difficult.

Our work looks at the patterns trauma left behind and the needs underneath them. Brainspotting can be part of this when it feels right for you.

What Brainspotting is

Brainspotting is based on the idea that where you look affects how you feel. Together we find a “brainspot,” an eye position connected to what you’re carrying, and I stay present and attuned while your brain and body process.

Many people describe it as working underneath the story, rather than talking around it.

Who it may help

• People who feel stuck after years of talking about something
• Trauma, anxiety and strong emotional reactions
• Experiences that are hard to put into words

How it fits into our work

I’m trained and practiced in Brainspotting, a trauma modality. It’s one part of a full counseling relationship, not a one-session fix. We’ll talk about whether it’s a good fit for you, and you can always say no.

Results vary from person to person. Brainspotting isn’t a replacement for emergency or medical care.

What it can feel like

Anxiety and depression don’t always look the way people expect. Sometimes they show up as constant busyness, irritability or a feeling of being far away from your own life.

• A mind that won’t slow down, or a body that won’t relax
• Feeling low, flat or unmotivated
• Harsh self-criticism or never feeling like enough
• Pulling away from people, or holding on too tightly

How we work together

We look at what’s happening now and what’s underneath it. Often anxiety and low mood are tied to old ways of staying safe, like pleasing, controlling or shutting down.

You’ll learn tools to settle your nervous system, and we’ll go deeper than coping alone, toward feeling more at home in yourself. Alongside Brainspotting, I draw on Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Substance use is rarely the whole story

Drinking or using often does a job: numbing pain, quieting anxiety, getting through the day. We look at that job with curiosity instead of shame.

How we work together

Whether you’re questioning your use, early in recovery or worried about relapse, we work at your pace. We pay attention to triggers, to what you’re feeling, and to where trauma and substance use meet. I bring years of experience in addiction recovery to this work.

What this counseling is, and isn’t

This is outpatient individual counseling. If you need detox, residential treatment or medication management, I’ll help you find the right level of care.

How it works

Sessions take place by secure video through SimplePractice. You’ll get a link before each appointment, and there’s nothing to install beyond what the link asks for.

What you’ll need

• To be located in Idaho at the time of your session
• A private, quiet space where you can talk freely
• A phone, tablet or computer with a camera and a steady connection

Is telehealth right for me?

For much of what I treat, telehealth works well. If I think meeting in person in Meridian would serve you better, I’ll tell you.

What I offer

I offer clinical supervision and workshops. Reach out to talk about what you’re looking for.

Email [email protected] →