I grew up in a town in which there was a lot of stigma surrounding mental health and other social issues. In high school I took my first psychology course and fell in love with the subject. It offered an outlet to talk about everything I had been socialized not to. To me this is what effective therapy offers – a space in which no topic, emotion, or identity needs to be hidden.

By embracing what we have been taught is taboo, we can liberate ourselves from shame. I find it deeply fulfilling to work to create such a space for my clients and witness the courage they demonstrate as we build a relationship built upon trust.

Inside the therapy room I can tell a client is benefitting from the work when they express thoughts and emotions that feel vulnerable or uncomfortable. Over time progress can be seen in the increased insight a client has in making sense of their experience and responding with compassion to their struggles. Additionally, the client may incorporate various tools and techniques to cope with difficult emotions and express themselves in a way that feels authentic.

Outside of the therapy room progress can be seen by improved communication and connection in interpersonal relationships and by taking action to live in accordance with one’s values.

I volunteer for a non-profit called Three and a Half Acre’s Yoga (THAY) whose mission is to provide trauma-sensitive yoga throughout NYC to under-resourced communities.

This work has given me a greater understanding of the importance of language and choice in being trauma-sensitive. It has been a privilege to witness the healing transformation that can take place through yoga when taught in a trauma-sensitive way.