Hi, I’m Callie.
I decided to become a therapist after my own experience in therapy had a profound impact on my life. I know firsthand how daunting seeking help can feel, as well as how meaningful the work can be. Just by reading this, you are already taking your first steps in your healing process. I am so glad you are here.
The Way I Work
I firmly believe that you are the expert of your own experience; therefore, the most effective place for us to begin our work is with what feels most important to you. I strive to provide a calm and caring environment to help us process what you are going through now, as well as explore how your life experiences have shaped the way you think, feel, speak, need, love, let go, and cope. These insights will support us in incorporating whatever tool(s) will be most supportive for you, your strengths, and your goals. This could be having a safe place to reflect and ask questions, interrupting a negative pattern, troubleshooting making a change, finding acceptance of a tough reality, practicing self-patience, setting a complicated boundary, communicating more effectively, validating your own experience, regulating your emotions, weighing the pros and cons of a big decision, or just having a calming, non-judgmental presence while you work through something difficult. This is your time; whether you are looking for a place to rest or are ready to stay awhile, come as you are. You are welcome here. I look forward to meeting you.
My Experience
I hold a dual degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and Art Therapy, and also have specialized training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). My clinical background includes working with clients struggling with depression, anxiety, grief and loss, trauma, infertility, memory loss, caregiver stress, substance use, codependency, divorce, burnout, self-esteem, and more. I have facilitated therapy groups in Art Therapy, Grief and Loss, Relationships, Communication, Addiction, Dual-Diagnosis, Relapse-Prevention, Parenting, Social Skills, Coping Skills, CBT, as well as Standard DBT (The Four Skill Modules). Now in private practice, I specialize in working individually with adults experiencing life transitions, infertility, and loss.
Therapy is not one size fits all
To provide care that is truly personalized to you, I use a combination of the following theoretical orientations:
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Developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based practice emphasizing balancing behavioral change with acceptance of reality as it is. DBT provides coping skills to manage challenging situations and emotions.
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Understanding the Four Skill Modules of DBT
Mindfulness : Skills to help you focus on the present, live in the moment, and use your senses to notice what is happening inside you and around you, without judgment. Mindfulness can help you stay calm and avoid engaging in negative thought patterns and impulsive behavior.
Emotional Regulation: Skills to help you navigate powerful feelings in a more effective way. Emotional Regulation helps you to recognize and cope with intense emotions, reduce emotional vulnerability, and have more positive experiences.
Interpersonal Effectiveness: Skills to help you become more assertive (for example, expressing your needs or saying no), listen and communicate more effectively, deal with challenging people, and maintain self-respect.
Distress Tolerance: Skills to help you accept yourself and current situation, particularly in situations of high intensity. Distress Tolerance helps to prepare for intense emotions and increase your effectiveness in coping with them.
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Art Therapy is a specialized field that utilizes the creative process to explore thoughts, feelings, relationships, and experiences. The approach was founded on the belief that self-expression through creativity can be a valuable tool for increasing awareness. Art Therapy involves the use of creative techniques such as drawing, painting, collage, and sculpture as an alternative way to support emotional processing.
No artistic talent or prior experience is necessary, as art therapy focuses on the therapeutic process of the work, rather than the final product.
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*Due to the sensitive nature of art-making and processing in the therapy setting, I only incorporate art therapy into sessions upon request. If you are interested in using art therapy in our work together, please let me know.
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Humanistic therapy, also known as humanism, is a holistic approach that focuses on the whole person, especially positive characteristics and potential for growth, rather than concentrating on individual problems or symptoms. A central belief in humanistic therapy is that all people are inherently motivated to fulfill their internal needs, and that each of us has the power and ability to make the changes we want to make in our lives.
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The 3 Core Conditions of a Humanistic Approach
Empathetic Understanding: Your thoughts and feelings are fully understood and accepted without judgment.
Congruence and Genuineness : You are the expert of your own experience, and it is my role as a therapist to meet you with transparency and honesty.
Unconditional Positive Regard : Your thoughts and feelings are to be met with empathy, trust, and confidence. It is my role to believe the best in you.
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Strength-based therapy was founded by Dr. Donald Clifton, the grandfather of Positive Psychology. The approach focuses on your internal strengths and resourcefulness, rather than weaknesses or failures. The strength-based orientation believes that you already have the strength and resources within you to meet your goals, and therapy is a process to aid you in accessing those tools and practice using them effectively.
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The strength-based approach has many crossovers with humanistic therapy, as they both consider self-actualization to be a final goal. Both orientations respect you as the client being the expert of your own experience, and place an emphasis on your independence, resilience, and respect for the choices you want to make.
Oh hi, my name is Pepperjack.
You may spot me snoozing in the background of your sessions from time to time.
I am on my own healing journey— my life has been pretty tough. Even though I am in a safe home now, I am still a pretty nervous gal. Mom says this is very understandable given all I have been through. I am practicing being brave and getting more confident every day. I hope you can be patient with yourself too.
