Therapy Approaches in Lafayette, CA
As a marriage and family therapist serving Lafayette, Walnut Creek, the East Bay, and all of California online, I integrate multiple, often evidence-based, approaches to meet your unique needs. My therapeutic style draws on the latest research and methods, as well as my background in drama therapy, which incorporates body-based healing, parts work, creative expression, and traditional talk therapy.
Every family, couple, teen, and child I work with receives personalized care and a blend of these approaches, based on my 25 years of experience with determining what will be most helpful for your situation.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy
Internal Family Systems therapy helps you understand and heal the different "parts" of yourself that may be in conflict. You might notice an inner critic, a people-pleaser, or a part that shuts down when stressed. IFS views these as protective parts trying to help you, and therapy involves getting to know them with curiosity and compassion.
My approach: Drawing on my background in drama therapy, I help clients explore their inner parts through dialogue, imagery, and experiential exercises. This creative approach makes abstract concepts tangible and speeds up the healing process.
IFS is especially helpful for:
Teens struggling with self-criticism or conflicting feelings about family expectations
Adults working through childhood wounds or trauma
Parents who find themselves reacting in ways they don't understand
Anyone feeling "stuck" despite trying to change
IFS naturally complements family therapy, as we can explore how your inner parts interact with family dynamics. This approach is powerful for both individual sessions and family work.
Available for online therapy throughout California
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for more information on why drama therapists are naturally skilled with the Internal Family Systems approach.
Somatic therapy recognizes that our bodies hold onto stress, trauma, and emotional patterns. Rather than only talking about feelings, we pay attention to bodily sensations, tension, breath, and movement as pathways to healing.
My approach: My training in drama therapy provides a rich foundation for body-based work. I guide clients to notice what their body is telling them, use movement and breath to release stored tension, and develop greater mind-body awareness. This might include grounding exercises, noticing where you feel emotions in your body, or gentle movement exploration.
Somatic therapy is especially helpful for:
Anxiety that manifests physically (tight chest, stomach issues, tension)
Trauma that traditional talk therapy hasn't fully addressed
Children and teens who process better through movement than words
Anyone who feels disconnected from their body or emotions
Somatic approaches integrate beautifully with family therapy, helping families attune to each other's non-verbal cues and regulate their nervous systems together.
Online somatic therapy available for Lafayette, Walnut Creek, and throughout California
Somatic Therapy
Family systems therapy views problems not as residing in one person, but as patterns within the family system. When one family member is struggling, it often reflects larger family dynamics, communication patterns, or unspoken rules that need attention.
My approach: I help families identify unhelpful patterns, improve communication, and create healthier ways of relating. We look at roles each person plays, boundaries between family members, and how the family system as a whole can shift to support everyone's wellbeing.
Family systems therapy is especially helpful for:
Blended families navigating new dynamics
Parenting conflicts and co-parenting challenges
Families going through divorce or major transitions
Multi-generational patterns affecting your family
This is the foundation of my work with families, whether we're addressing behavioral issues, communication breakdowns, or supporting your family through change.
Specialized family therapy serving Lafayette, Walnut Creek, and East Bay families online
Family Systems Therapy
Mindfulness brings present-moment awareness to therapy, helping you notice thoughts and feelings without being overwhelmed by them. Rather than getting caught in anxious thoughts about the future or rumination about the past, mindfulness teaches you to ground yourself in the here and now.
My approach: I weave mindfulness practices throughout our work together—teaching breathing techniques, grounding exercises, and ways to observe your thoughts with curiosity rather than judgment. These are practical skills you can use between sessions and in daily life.
Mindfulness-based therapy is especially helpful for:
Coujples seeking to reduce reactivity
Parents wanting to respond rather than react
Anyone feeling overwhelmed by racing thoughts or strong emotions
Mindfulness enhances all the other approaches I use and gives you tools to take with you beyond therapy.
Mindfulness-based therapy available online throughout California
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. By identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and developing new skills, CBT helps you make concrete changes in how you feel and act.
My approach: I integrate CBT techniques when clients benefit from a more structured, skills-focused approach. This might include identifying thinking traps, behavioral experiments, or developing specific coping strategies for anxiety or depression.
CBT is especially helpful for:
Anxiety, panic, and phobias
Depression and negative thinking patterns
Teens needing concrete tools for school or social stress
Specific behavioral goals or habit change
While I use CBT techniques, I typically blend them with other approaches rather than using a purely CBT framework. This gives you practical tools while also addressing deeper emotional and relational patterns.
Evidence-based CBT available online for Lafayette, Walnut Creek, and throughout California
An Integrated Approach
Most clients benefit from a combination of these approaches rather than just one. In our work together, I'll draw on the methods that fit your unique situation, personality, and goals. My background in drama therapy enriches all of these approaches, bringing creativity, body awareness, and experiential techniques to our sessions.
Whether you're seeking help for your family, your teen, your relationship, or yourself, my goal is to create a therapeutic experience that feels right for you and creates lasting change.
Ready to get started? Contact me to schedule a free 30-minute consultation and learn how these approaches can help you and your family.
Serving Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Orinda, Moraga, and throughout California via secure online therapy.