Specializing in Anxiety, Depression, ASD, and "Adulting"
Anxiety
Our brains are excellent at keeping us alive, not so great at keeping us happy. Anxiety is that pesky byproduct of our fight or flight system that can wreak havoc on our happiness. Anxiety can also severely impact work, school, relationships, and even physical health.
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There are many types of anxiety and all range from mild to severe, but regardless of the type, the underlying process is the same. When an anxiety-producing stimulus is encountered, people with anxiety disorders tend to have an extremely negative reaction. I’m sure you’ve felt some of these symptoms, I know I have; (sweating, lightheadedness, racing thoughts, gastrointestinal distress, hot flashes, sweaty palms, desire to flee, etc.). Often, people try to cope with those negative reactions by avoiding situations or experiences that make them anxious. Unfortunately, avoidance can backfire and feed the anxiety. But there’s good news! Anxiety disorders are very treatable. The majority of patients who suffer from anxiety can reduce or eliminate symptoms after several (or fewer) months of psychotherapy, and many patients notice improvement after just a few sessions. (American Psychological Association)
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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
You may have heard that "Talk therapy doesn't work for Autism", which is something that I hear way too often and it is not true! First of all, there is a big difference between "cure" and "help". Yes, it is true that nothing can cure Autism Spectrum Disorder, but that doesn't mean nothing can improve the lives of those living with and around it. Therapy can help with social skills, emotional regulation, perspective-taking, and much more.
​Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is the term, (as of DSM-5 2013), that replaced the former diagnoses of Autistic Disorder, PDD (Pervasive Developmental Disorder), and Asperger's Syndrome. A 2016 Center for Disease Control study found 1 in 54 children are diagnosed with ASD by age 8. Twenty years ago, most people hadn't heard of Autism, let alone know someone affected by it. Now it seems to touch the lives of everyone. Most people I talk to at the very least "have a nephew" or "used to work with" someone with Autism. There are more shows and movies portraying people "on the spectrum", and more programs and resources than ever for children and their families. However, there hasn't been much progress in the mental health field regarding treating individuals and families with ASD. I hope to change that.
​I work with adults and teens with High Functioning ASD or Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 1 (formerly "Asperger's") both diagnosed and undiagnosed, Parents with Autistic children, as well as "Neurodiverse" couples. Some of the topics I address in therapy are communication, emotional processing and regulation, self-efficacy, problem-solving, RSD, PDA, goal setting, motivation, anxiety and depression, and self-acceptance.
Depression
Depression is different than just feeling sad. Unless you’ve experienced it, you don’t truly understand what it’s like. It can be difficult to talk to friends or family about depression because there is a fear that being honest might scare them, or burden them.
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Major Depressive disorder affects over 10 million Americans any given year. That’s a big deal, that's a lot of people potentially suffering in silence. Luckily, therapy can help. Depression is one of the most prevalent and debilitating mental health issues. Studies have shown that talk therapy can be just as effective as antidepressants at treating depression. According to the National Network of Depression Centers, 80% of people treated for depression see a reduction in symptoms within 4-6 weeks of starting treatment. Making decisions can be difficult while struggling with depression, but deciding to try therapy can change everything. It may sound too good to be true, but it isn’t, you don’t have to spend more time being unhappy.
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy encourages the client to focus briefly on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements), which is associated with a reduction in the vividness and emotion associated with the trauma memories. It is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and PTSD symptoms. Research supports positive clinical outcomes showing EMDR therapy as a helpful treatment for disorders such as anxiety, depression, OCD, and other distressing life experiences. (EMDRIA website). (More information can be found on my "Resources" page).
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I'm am trained in EMDR and have provided EMDR therapy to Neurotypical and Neurodiverse clients. EMDR works well for both "big T" and "little t" trauma.
School and Work Issues
Trust me, it's completely normal to feel frustrated, insecure, inadequate, depressed, apathetic, or angry about school or work, and although its "normal" to feel these things, wouldn't it be nice if you didn't have to? If you have trouble focusing, getting tasks done on time, getting to class or work on time you are not alone. I hear all too often " I am just not motivated to do ANYTHING!" Around 60% of Neurodivergent students will not finish or graduate college with a bachelor's degree. According to statistics from the Milwaukee Young Adult Study fewer students with ADHD enter college (22% vs 77%), and for those who do go to college, those with ADHD have a lower college graduation rate (5% vs 35%).
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Therapy can help if you are struggling with any of these issues, in addition to struggles with transitioning from high school to college, figuring out how to manage yourself in college, finding an appropriate job, interview skills, getting along with, and communicating effectively with classmates or coworkers.
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"Adulting"
“Cant. Adult. Today” So it turns out you don't have to feel like an adult to act like one. “Adulting” means doing the responsible behavior required of an adult, and it sort of sucks sometimes, but it doesn't have to. I love working with teenagers and “young” adults who are struggling with this concept. I have helped clients with how to get a job, move out, date, make friends, manage time, make appointments, figure out groceries or driving, what the destination is in life, and how to get there, all while learning how to feel better during the process.