When we try to achieve perfect happiness, we inevitably fail, and then we think there must be something wrong with us. Many times, we try to escape our hard feelings, distract ourselves from them, or numb them out, but that doesn’t seem to work for very long. Wellness is not about being happy all the time or never feeling pain again. Wellness is about learning to get better at feeling, period. That feeling may be happiness or sadness, contentment or grief, anger or joy. In working with me, you’ll learn how to cope with hard emotions while also finding ways to do things that bring meaning to your life, regardless of how you feel. In this way, you will start to feel better - not because you've achieved perfect happiness, but because you know how to live well with whatever emotions life throws your way. I believe in the power of story in therapy. Telling our stories, speaking our traumas out loud, gives us power over them and dispels shame. In our first appointment, I want to hear your story. We’ll talk about what brought you to therapy, your goals, and what wellness means to you. We’ll start to chart your course to wellness.