Services | Bellevue therapy

“You are imperfect, you are wired for struggle, but you are worthy of love and belonging.”

Brene Brown

Adults - 20's & 30's

Adults often begin their lives burdened by fear of what others think, while simultaneously navigating new careers, relationships, boundaries, and identity. Many silence their own voices, becoming complacent rather than honoring their inner truth. Yet, I have worked with young adults who chose a different path—investing in their identity, giving themselves space to explore their process, and establishing healthy self‑care patterns early. This changes how we connect: relating from resilience and self‑worth rather than from extremes of feeling “not enough” or “too much.” Both extremes miss the mark of authenticity in relationships.

There should be a class in middle or high school dedicated to mental health—teaching self‑respect, recognizing internal strengths, working through negative self‑talk, and finding purpose. Too often, teens internalize the belief that their value depends on productivity or outcomes. This fragile foundation leaves them reliant on external success to feel secure, even though life rarely unfolds that way. Why not encourage healthy patterns early, before unhealthy ones take root? Feelings are often dismissed as inconvenient, something to “get over,” when in reality they signal deeper truths. Many of us grow up without role models who show how to express emotions in healthy ways.

We need more voices affirming that feelings are valid and can deepen intimacy rather than perpetuate silence. I am passionate about helping others uncover their authentic selves in a culture that minimizes harm. Sometimes additional support is essential, especially when silence or avoidance has become the norm. It is inspiring to witness clients step into resilience, grieve their losses, and grow stronger. Identity itself matures when we stop running from what haunts us and instead face the experiences that shapes us.

Questions to Bring to Therapy:

What are your parents' expectations on what your adult life is supposed to be like?
Growing up, how did your parents define success in life?
What is the mission statement / values you have for your life?
What is the internal voice in your head like? What was it like when you were young?

Introverts

Introverts make up between one‑third and one‑half of the population, yet stigma persists that being introverted is somehow negative. In reality, introverts bring unique ideas, deep reflection, and invaluable contributions when their voices are heard. Too often, not all the perspectives in a room are given space. Introverts can grow up feeling that something is fundamentally wrong with them, even though they know that they have valuable insights that others aren't expressing.

Introverts face many challenges: small talk can feel draining, group settings may overwhelm, and time alone is essential to recharge. They may struggle to vocalize feelings, articulate the impact of others’ behavior, or feel misunderstood in collaborative environments. Finding ways to navigate these challenges is crucial. I once had a boss who modeled creative workarounds—engaging people one‑on‑one after meetings, following up by email, and finding alternative ways to contribute outside the typical group dynamic. These strategies highlight that there are many valid ways to participate in life that cater to individual needs at the same time.

Our environments profoundly shape how we see ourselves, how we interact, and the outcomes we experience. Loud external voices often demand conformity, leaving us disconnected from our authentic selves. The real work lies in differentiating ourselves and contributing in ways that honor our natural tendencies, even when it feels difficult. I value working with both introverts and extroverts and see the richness of the human experience in all its variety.

Questions to Bring to Therapy:

What stories (from childhood) inform your views of being an introvert in the present?
Who told you growing up that it's not ok to be an introvert?
What do you do to recharge your internal battery when it gets over-loaded?
What do you tell your younger self about being introverted?

Antagonistic Harm

Abuse refers to behavior that is harmful to another person through manipulation, humiliation, control, or violence. It often hides under the guise of “normal” connection, taking many forms—emotional, verbal, psychological, sexual, or physical. Survivors internalize negative self-talk, question their sanity, and replay endless arguments in their minds with the offender, believing they must fix a problem they didn’t cause in the first place. They hope offenders will understand and change, but offenders are focused on control, not on repairing the relationship. They thrive off of bending reality, reframing falsehoods as “normal,” and using that distortion to maintain control out of an inflation of their own sense of importance.

When held accountable, offenders often use DARVO—defend, attack, reverse victim and offender. This can take many forms, but often occurs through denial, rage, gaslighting, or blame-shifting. Instead of owning their actions and apologizing, they deflect with phrases like “Why are you so sensitive?” or “It was just a joke, you should have laughed at that comment.” This leaves survivors confused and hurt. They long for genuine safety and connection and instead are being met with violence in a way that makes them question their actual experience of harm.

Survivors may try to “keep the peace,” but eventually realize false peace is damaging and becomes intolerable. The therapeutic work is to rediscover buried parts of the self that weren't ok to show others, and to rewire the belief that abuse is normal and acceptable. I have seen courageous people stand up against impossible situations, having faced the worst and come out on the other side with grounding and new growth within themselves. The gaslighting and flying monkeys are like a circus room of mirrors reflecting lies: it's repetitive and predictable. I have a heart for survivors because it takes a lot of hard work to rewire this internal programming and discover a much richer internal garden that was neglected (often for years).

Questions to Bring to Therapy:

What has been the impact of harm on your internal world?
What are the stories of childhood where you were missed emotionally and in other ways?
What do you want to say to the offender that you can't say?
When was the last time you felt safe?

Dating & Relationships

I often think of dating and relationships as an arena—an ultimate test of vulnerability, risk, and the ability to face unknowns and fears. Many people lose themselves in the pursuit of being liked, putting on masks to present what they believe the other person wants to see. As Esther Perel describes, relationships are a dance between intimacy (time together to feel close) and autonomy (time apart to maintain individuality). Striking this balance is difficult, often shaped by how our parents modeled closeness and independence. We long for romantic connection, yet many of us feel something “off” inside that we struggle to name or resolve.

In past generations, communal support systems helped fill relational gaps. Today’s individualistic culture often leaves couples pressured to be everything for one another. As Perel notes, “We want our chosen one to offer stability, safety, predictability, and dependability—all the anchoring experiences. And we want that very same person to supply awe, mystery, adventure, and risk.” This dual expectation can be overwhelming.

Healthy dating requires tools that honor boundaries, allow both partners to be fully themselves, and foster kindness and mutual respect. Yet finding a compatible partner today is challenging. Dating apps, while convenient, can leave people feeling isolated and convinced their struggles are unique, when in fact they are widely shared. Support during the ups and downs of dating is invaluable—not only to navigate challenges but also to clarify what one truly seeks in a future partner. Ultimately, dating is not just about finding someone; it is also about discovering more of ourselves in the process.

Questions to Bring to Therapy:

What themes from your family of origin are on repeat in the dating world?
What do you tell yourself right before a date?
What are red flags in dating? What are green flags?
An example of when you were not acting out of your core-self?

Childhood & Impacts on the Present

In the fast pace of daily life, patterns from our past are often overlooked. Every person deserves space to process not only the pain and hurt of childhood but also the moments when parents or caregivers did well. Our formative stories hold power over us when we fail to give them the attention they deserve. Too often, they are neglected, leaving us to wonder why we struggle in adulthood. Some of the hardest inner work involves revisiting these significant stories and recognizing how they shape the way we relate to others today.

It takes courage to face what has power over us and to allow painful feelings to move through us. I believe deeply in the concept of earned‑secure attachment—helping people find peace within themselves even when it was absent in the past. As children, we accept our environment as “normal.” Only later do we begin to question its impact. Repetitive patterns often resurface in adulthood, yet what once “worked” in childhood rarely serves us in the present.

The goal of this work is to examine what happened, feel it fully in a trusted environment, and experience companionship in places that once felt isolating. Restoration begins when we show ourselves kindness in new ways, replacing old patterns of harshness and unworthiness. Harm occurs in relationship, but the good news is that healing also happens in relationship.

Questions to Bring to Therapy:

What was it like coming home after you had a bad day at school?
What messages did your parents give you about what is important in life?
What are the things you avoided as a kid that seemed impossible?
What childhood stories do you still think about in the present?