Relationships can reveal parts of ourselves that remain completely hidden when we are alone. Perhaps you find yourself automatically taking responsibility for other people's complex feelings. You might avoid conflict at all costs until a quiet resentment builds, withdraw entirely when you feel misunderstood, or deeply struggle to recognize your own needs in the presence of someone else's.
Sometimes, these painful dynamics seem to repeat across entirely different people and contexts. Simply knowing that a pattern keeps happening does not automatically tell us how to respond differently when we are in the thick of it.
The patterns we carry into our relationships
Relationships and Boundaries
Our work involves looking carefully at the specific roles you tend to occupy and how they originally developed.
What do you fundamentally expect from other people? What do you fear might happen if you say no, express genuine anger, or allow someone to see a less accommodating side of you? We will also consider the other person's position with clarity, without automatically making you responsible for their choices or behavior. I believe we can hold immense compassion for the difficult circumstances that shaped us alongside an active responsibility for how we choose to participate in our relationships today.
Sometimes, our sessions will involve a practical, grounded conversation about setting clear boundaries. At other times, it might involve noticing a much older, protective pattern that automatically appears whenever closeness, disagreement, or vulnerability feels dangerous. Because this is individual therapy, our focus remains entirely on your unique experience of relationships and the new possibilities available to you within them.
What we might do together:
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This service is individual therapy. We work with your experience of friendships, family, colleagues or romantic relationships. You do not need to be in a romantic relationship to attend.
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Not at all. I work with individuals navigating difficulties involving friendships, family members, colleagues and romantic partners.
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We can look closely at a recurring interaction and explore what each response means to you. That may help us identify another way to approach it.
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Yes. We can explore what makes a boundary difficult and practice communicating it in a way that feels clear to you.
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We can explore what feels risky about speaking honestly and practice expressing something you usually hold back.
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We can explore what connection means to you, what gets in the way and what feels possible as a next step.
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Therapy can help you understand your need for approval and discover ways to care for others without continually overlooking yourself.
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We can examine your concerns and what you need from the relationship. My role is to support your understanding and choices rather than decide for you.
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We can explore what you learned about trust, closeness and conflict in earlier relationships and how that relates to your experience now.
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Absolutely. We can explore your family dynamics, clarify your needs and develop ways to approach difficult conversations with greater confidence.
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Please see my FEES page for all of my session rates.
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If you plan to claim through insurance, check your coverage for a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) before booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let's begin with a conversation.
Book a free 15-minute phone consultation to talk about what brings you here, ask questions and see how it feels to speak together.
There is no obligation to book a session afterward.
You may also want to explore self-esteem or emotional overwhelm.