How I work
How therapy with me works
Expect warmth, honest feedback, and active guidance. I'll explain what we're doing and why, and we'll adjust the pace together.
AEDP is the foundation
AEDP stands for accelerated experiential dynamic psychotherapy. It focuses on working through emotions as you experience them, inside a supportive relationship.
We talk about what's going on in your life, and we also pay attention to what happens as you talk. We might notice a held breath, a quick joke, or the urge to shut down. Then we slow down and make room for what's there, like sadness, anger, relief, or pride.
I stay actively involved. I ask questions, share what I notice, and help you slow down when something important comes up. You won't be left talking into silence.
Other tools I use
IFS (Internal Family Systems)
IFS helps us understand parts of you with competing needs. Part of you may want to rest while another part won't let you stop. Instead of picking a winner, we get curious about what each part is trying to do for you.
EMDR
EMDR stands for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. It's a structured way to work with distressing experiences. While you bring a memory to mind, you follow back-and-forth eye movements or other side-to-side cues.
Brainspotting
Brainspotting uses where you look to help you stay with what you feel. We find an eye position connected to a strong feeling or body sensation, then stay with it at a pace you can handle.
I may suggest EMDR or Brainspotting when a specific experience still feels distressing. I'll always tell you what I'm suggesting and why, and you can say no.
What a session feels like
Sessions are 60 minutes by video. You'll need to be in Michigan, in a private place where you can talk freely.
You don't have to arrive knowing how to open up. I'll help. I'll check in about what you're feeling, point out what I notice, and help you stay with what matters. If it starts to feel like too much, we'll slow down together.
Your first session
- I'll ask about your history, what's going on now, and what you hope will change.
- We'll talk about how I work.
- You can ask me any questions you have.
- Together, we'll pick an initial focus.
What the research says
EMDR
The 2023 VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for PTSD names EMDR as one of three individual trauma-focused therapies it recommends for PTSD.
AEDP
AEDP draws on attachment research and affective neuroscience, and early studies of AEDP itself are promising. In a 2020 study of 62 adults in private practice, clients improved across a range of symptoms (Iwakabe et al., 2020). A 2022 follow-up found those gains held 6 and 12 months later (Iwakabe et al., 2022).
IFS and Brainspotting
These are tools I use alongside AEDP when they fit what you're working on.
Everyone responds to therapy differently, so we'll keep checking in about what's helping and adjust as we go.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Defense. (2023). VA/DoD clinical practice guideline for the management of posttraumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder. healthquality.va.gov/guidelines/MH/ptsd (opens in a new tab)
- Iwakabe, S., et al. (2020). The effectiveness of accelerated experiential dynamic psychotherapy (AEDP) in private practice settings: A transdiagnostic study conducted within the context of a practice-research network. Psychotherapy, 57(4), 548–561. doi.org/10.1037/pst0000344 (opens in a new tab)
- Iwakabe, S., et al. (2022). The long-term outcome of accelerated experiential dynamic psychotherapy: 6- and 12‑month follow-up results. Psychotherapy, 59(3), 431–446. doi.org/10.1037/pst0000441 (opens in a new tab)
Start with a free 15‑minute consult
We'll talk about what's going on and whether I'm the right fit. You don't have to arrive knowing how to open up.
Request a free 15-minute consultI'll reply within one business day. The consult can be by video or phone.