The work of therapy is about finding light, both in ourselves and in our lives.

Even in normal life, sometimes you get tossed about and feel lost, adrift, alone. More so now, in these uncharted waters of the last few years, you are feeling overwhelmed, afraid, uncertain. The storms of life can take their toll – oftentimes most profoundly in the “voices” in our head, or what we therapists call our “self-talk”. It gets dark and discouraging, full of fear and shame. It’s hard to focus, hard to feel, hard to push through.

You are not alone. There is help. There is hope.

There’s an old camp song that comes to mind – the lyrics begin with “it only takes a spark to get a fire going”. There’s so much truth to that. And there is a spark still within you. Together, we can illuminate your path and push back against the darkness. I can help you learn to recognize the thoughts and feelings, learn to challenge the negative “self-talk”, learn to comfort and care for yourself as a precious, valuable soul, full of light.

There’s a story to the photo at the top of this page. I was traveling with some friends and there was an opportunity to see a lighthouse. Then they decided to do something else – and I was left with a dilemma, do I give up my chance to see it or do I go by myself? Well, if you know me, you know I love lighthouses so I wasn’t going to pass up seeing a new one. I joined the tour group with a dozen strangers, expecting to be paired up with some other travelers. I was just along for the ride. But no, as I was the only individual, I was given my own Jeep to drive. Mind you, I’m in Mexico, the jeep doesn’t have a rearview mirror, I don’t speak Spanish, the stationary seat is far away from the pedals and I have short legs – my head is screaming, you can’t do this! this is a disaster! But the tour group pulls out and starts our procession down the highway. I’m following the lead Jeep. I’m driving this old metal can and I don’t think I can do it. But I keep driving. I know, somewhere, at some point, I’m supposed to see this lighthouse. It better be worth it. Because this really sucks. I’m alone. I’m scared. I’m uncomfortable. It’s unfamiliar, it’s a never before traveled road, literally. And then the strangest thing happens, we slow down and turn a corner and there before me is this amazing rocky shoreline and the crashing turquoise water, and in the distance, I see it. The tall white spear of the lighthouse, standing on the coast. And it’s all worth it. It’s peaceful and exhilarating and gorgeous and I DID IT. I think life is like that. I think therapy is like that. We find ourselves in weird, unfamiliar, uncomfortable places, places where we may not know the language, where we feel like we don’t know what we are doing. But we do it. And along comes a turn in the road and we see it, and okay, yeah, it’s worth it. Does life always turn out great? No, of course not. And I believe there’s enough of these moments that make it worthwhile. Looking back at this experience, I realize I had a guide, a local, who knew the way, who spoke the language, leading me. I needed his help, sure. But he didn’t drive me. He didn’t get me to the lighthouse. I did. Now it’s your turn. You’re lost, scared, confused, feeling alone. Let me be your guide. Let me lead – you hop on in your own Jeep, battered and bruised as it may be, and you drive. We’ll get there. You’ll find your light.