REGISTERED ASSOCIATE MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPIST #137997 SUPERVISED BY BREN M. CHASSE, LMFT #94662
Are you tired of being overtaken by your feelings? Are you ready to dig into the relationship between your past experiences and your current level of functioning? Let's talk about healing paths to ease suffering that build from your mind, body, and soul’s inherent wisdom and that honor your unique needs.
Healing is a journey. You don't have to walk this path alone.
As an Associate Marriage & Family Therapist, I am supervised by Bren M. Chasse, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT #94662), at Anchor Psychotherapy, Inc. in Pasadena. For more information, please visit Anchor Psychotherapy at anchorpsychotherapy.com.
My Therapeutic Approach
I use knowledge of multiple therapeutic models to shape each client’s healing path in a way that honors their unique, intersecting identities and therapeutic goals. While person-centered in my overall approach, my work is informed by models like Emotionally Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and psychodynamic and attachment theories. Trained in EMDR, I collaborate with clients holistically to process trauma and adverse life experiences while prioritizing harm reduction and fostering client empowerment. My work incorporates proven emotional regulation and mindfulness skills as needed, as well as experiential art-, nature-, and body-based interventions to deepen the connection between the mind, body, and soul, thus optimizing your soul’s ability to self-heal.
(Not sure what all those big therapy terms mean? Few non-therapists do! Click here for some quick definitions.)
My clinical practice thus far has provided me with valuable experience working with individual adults, children and teens, couples, and families navigating the effects of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, self-esteem, addiction, grief, neurodivergence, marriage and relationships (including consensual non-monogamy), sexual stressors, parenting skills, anger management, and more. As a member and supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community, I am committed to inclusivity in my work and am identity-affirming.
Education
M.A., Marriage & Family Therapy
TOURO UNIVERSITY WORLDWIDE
B.A., Communication
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
Training
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing, EMDR INSTITUTE (2023)
Advanced Training Certificate, Ecotherapy, PACIFICA GRADUATE INSTITUTE (2022)
Transforming Trauma with Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy, DR. SUE JOHNSON (2023)
Healing Traumatic Wounds, & Alleviating Anxiety, Depression, and Addiction with Internal Family Systems, ALEXIA ROTHMAN, Ph.D. (2023)
Suicide Assessment & Intervention, SALLY SPENCER-THOMAS, Psy.D. (2023)
Healing from Affairs: Moving Past the Trauma of Betrayal & Infidelity, TAMMY NELSON, Ph.D. (2023)
Individual Therapy
Are you tired of being overtaken by your feelings? Are you ready to dig into the relationship between your past experiences and your current level of functioning to unlock your true potential? Individual therapy is tailored to your unique needs to help you reach your goals and feel alive in a new way.
Group Therapy
One of the most important aspects of healing is connection with other people. Group therapy offers a unique experience to bond with individuals facing similar issues in a safe, therapeutic space and walk togethering toward healing.
First, we will schedule a call to briefly share what brings you to therapy and discuss logistics and payment. We will discuss scheduling to find a regular time to meet either in person or via a secure video conferencing service, and then we can get started!
At our first appointment, I will ask a lot of questions about your mental health history and details of your current challenges so that we can develop a collaborative treatment plan tailored to your needs and goals.
After that, we will meet, typically weekly, for 50-minute sessions. Throughout our sessions, we will collaboratively identify your goals and work towards resolving your difficulties. The work of therapy is largely dependent on the strength of our therapist-client relationship, and healing takes time and is rarely linear. In our work together, you will be emotionally held in a safe container to process your emotions and experiences, while also equipped with the skills you need to lead a more meaningful, fulfilling life.
How does therapy work?
A (Very) Quick Therapy Glossary
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy is a form of therapy for individuals, families, and couples that inspires change through de-escalation of negative patterns and conflict, restructuring emotional experiences that define people's sense of self and others, and consolidation of new patterns.
Internal Family Systems
Internal Family Systems is a type of therapy that helps clients identify and befriend the sub-personalities – wounded parts and self-protective parts – within their mental system. Aside from these many "Parts," IFS posits that everyone has a core, genuine Self that can be accessed to help the protective and wounded parts become less extreme and to coexist more effectively.
Psychodynamic Theory
Psychodynamic theory focuses on the roots of suffering through development of insight. This work explores the impact of the past, including significant relationships, and uses the relationship between the therapist and client "as a window into problematic relationship paterns in the [client's] life," (Shedler, 2010).
Attachment Theory
Attachment refers to the bond between infant and caregiver, which affects social, emotional, and cognitive development. An attachment lens in both individual and couples therapy helps clients examine their reflexive responses to relationships, based on early attachment bonds.
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. EMDR therapy shows that the mind can in fact heal from psychological trauma much as the body recovers from physical trauma.