Trauma therapy for people-pleasers, perfectionists, and the anxiously self-aware
If all it took was understanding problems to fix them, you probably wouldn't be searching for a therapist, looking at my website right now
In-Person Mental Health Counseling in Mesa, Arizona
Patterns like people-pleasing, perfectionism, and overthinking often develop from experiences that threaten one’s sense of safety, belonging, or self-worth.
Maybe getting everything right helped you feel good enough
Maybe keeping other people happy made people stick around
Maybe thinking through every possible outcome helped you feel like you wouldn't be caught unprepared, like you had some control
And frustratingly, those patterns tend to stick around even when they're no longer needed. Our brains are wired to learn from painful experiences and try to prevent them from happening again. That is the core of what trauma is: picking up the wrong lessons from hard moments.
Our brains get so good at protecting us that we don't even have to think about it. We just react. And that's why understanding the pattern doesn't automatically change it. That protective reaction happens before we even get a chance to choose.
Trauma therapy gives the brain a chance to revisit those original moments and learn a new lesson, this time in a safe setting and with wiser eyes. Your brain learns to tell the difference between what hurt you then and what's happening now, giving you more choice in how you respond.
I take therapy seriously, but that doesn't mean that I’m a super serious therapist. I will make awful puns, come up with weird metaphors and analogies, challenge assumptions that seem obvious, and get curious about why you do the things you do. Sometimes that is done by digging into painful past experiences. Sometimes it’s spending an entire session trying to put out the dumpster fire of the week.
My job is to bring my knowledge and experience to the table. But I also need to know what's working, what isn't, and when something just isn't landing. That's how we figure out what actually helps. What makes good therapy is how well we work together!
What I Offer
I offer in-person trauma therapy in Mesa, Arizona, with weekly or biweekly appointments ranging from 45- and 75-minute sessions to longer trauma-processing intensives. Having different session lengths allows us flexibility to better support the work being done.
Speaking of flexibility, I work Fridays through Mondays to be able to offer weekend appointments, because the fewer barriers there are, the better.
I primarily use Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), because if a problem can be resolved quicker, I want to do so. I have advanced training in ART, but I also draw upon my training in EMDR and IFS and skills as a marriage and family therapist, tailoring the healing process along the way.
Who I Help
I specialize in working with perfectionists, people-pleasers, and those struggling with self-worth, boundaries, and the lasting impact of difficult experiences.
I work with teens (12+) and adults, and much of my practice is made up of people who are queer, neurodivergent, chronically ill, and/or healing from past abuse or neglect.
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