Level Up Counseling LLC

Counseling

IFS therapy approach

I use an Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy approach to help my clients better understand the different parts of themselves and to help heal wounded parts that are stuck in the past.

IFS believes that all people have parts inside them, each with it’s own role, desire, and purpose. IFS helps us to get to know and understand the different parts and to create a greater sense of harmony inside. IFS also acknowledges that each person has a core self, or Self, that is calm, compassion, and courageous and cannot be damaged. This part instinctively knows how to heal the wounded parts inside. In IFS, we work to access this Self-energy to help the other parts heal. When parts heal, they become more natural helpful and become internal allies. The IFS institute website has many videos and podcasts explaining the model in greater depth.

Trauma expertise

Trauma comes in many forms such as accidents, experiences of abuse or violence, the sudden death of a loved one, or a natural disaster. After a traumatic event, survivors can feel a range of overwhelming feelings and can struggle with nightmares, flashbacks, avoidance, or an inability to trust others.

I have over 15 years of experience working with trauma survivors and am trained in the neurological and emotional impacts of trauma. I help my clients understand their symptoms and how to manage them using strategies from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).

Once my clients feel more stable and in control of their symptoms, I use Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) or Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy to help reduce the level of disturbance they feel related to traumatic memories.

LGBTQIA+ specialization

I have over 15 years of experience working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) communities through a variety of LGBTQIA+ specific programs including The Network/La Red, The Alliance for GLBTQ youth, SunServe, and Fenway Health.

I have worked with my LGBTQIA+ clients on coming out issues, healing from familial rejection, relationship issues, and experiences of violence.

With transgender and non-binary clients, I have worked on issues related to transitioning and can provide assessments and letters of support for gender affirmation surgeries.

Polyamory and Kink Aware

In addition to LGBTQIA+ communities, I also have many years of experience working with polyamorous and BDSM/kink communities through my work at The Network/La Red, and Fenway Health