Insight and Balance Counseling
Psychotherapy for healing, self-discovery, transitions and growth
Welcome!
Thank you for checking out my website. When searching for a counselor, there are some practical, logistical questions and then there are some relational and “fit” questions. Hopefully you will find all the information you need below. You can also schedule a free 15 minute consultation to determine if I am the therapist to help you work on your goals
My Approach to Psychotherapy
I’ve been practicing psychotherapy for over 20 years, with most of my experience focused on helping adults navigate complex mental health challenges. My approach draws from DBT, CBT, and psychodynamic therapies, and I have extensive experience working with depression, anxiety, identity development, relationship challenges, trauma, substance use, life transitions, and existential concerns.
I believe therapy should be practical and lead to meaningful change. Together, we’ll set goals based on your unique needs, and I’ll help ensure our work stays grounded in those goals. Progress may not always be linear, but over time, you’ll build clarity and discover new ways to move toward the life you want. Much of this process involves developing balance, strengthening psychological flexibility, and cultivating a willingness to examine what’s no longer working.
In our work together, I tailor my approach to fit who you are and what you need. Sometimes that means building emotional tools or shifting patterns that keep you stuck. Other times, we focus on understanding and challenging beliefs or behaviors that contribute to anxiety, depression, or conflict. Therapy can also be a space to feel truly seen—where self-understanding opens the door to change.
I welcome clients of all identities and backgrounds and am committed to providing affirming, respectful care to LGBTQIA+ individuals. I support those exploring gender identity or expression, navigating the coming out process, or seeking a space where their full selves are acknowledged and celebrated. I also work with people in a range of relationship structures, including open relationships and partnerships that don’t follow traditional models. My aim is to create a safe, judgment-free space for curiosity, authenticity, and growth.
I have a particular interest in the challenges that can arise at midlife, when the identities we’ve built—professionally, relationally, or personally—may no longer fit in the same way. Therapy at this stage often involves asking deeper questions, letting go of old roles, and making room for new meaning and direction.
Often, our work touches on life’s bigger questions—grief, loss, aging, or transition—and the search for meaning these experiences can bring. In all of this, my role is to support and challenge you in ways that help you grow into the life you’re seeking.
Areas of focus:
Life can feel overwhelming at times, and it’s not always easy to know where to start.
In our work together, I provide a space that’s calm, supportive, and focused on helping you make sense of what’s happening in your inner world. I draw from evidence-based approaches and tailor therapy to meet your unique needs and goals. Here are some of the areas where I can help:
Depression
When you’re living with depression, it can feel like the world has gone gray. Together, we’ll work to understand what’s contributing to these feelings and find ways to reconnect with hope, energy, and meaning in your life. My goal is to help you move beyond just “coping” and toward feeling alive again.
Anxiety
Anxiety shows up in many forms—racing thoughts, a sense of dread, panic, or an inability to fully relax. I’ll help you learn practical tools to calm your body and mind, while we also explore the deeper patterns driving your worry so you can break free from the constant cycle of fear and tension.
Identity Development
At different points in life, we all wrestle with questions like “Who am I?” and “Who do I want to become?” Whether you’re exploring your gender or sexual identity, navigating cultural or family expectations, or redefining yourself in a new life stage, I offer a supportive space to help you discover a more authentic sense of self.
Relationship Challenges
Relationships can be both a source of joy and of pain. Whether you’re struggling with conflict, feeling disconnected from loved ones, or trying to heal from past relationship wounds, we can work together to build stronger, healthier ways of relating to others.
Trauma
If you’ve experienced trauma, you may feel stuck in the past or struggle to feel safe in the present. I take a gentle, collaborative approach to help you process painful experiences, restore a sense of safety, and reclaim your life on your own terms.
Substance Use
Sometimes our relationship with substances becomes complicated, especially when we’re using them to cope with stress, pain, or emotions. I provide a nonjudgmental space to explore these patterns and support your goals—whether that’s cutting back, quitting, or gaining more clarity about how substances fit into your life.
Life Transitions
Big changes—like a career shift, the end of a relationship, becoming a parent, or entering a new stage of life—can leave us feeling unsettled. I help people navigate these transitions with more confidence, using them as opportunities to grow and move closer to the life they want.
Existential Concerns
You may find yourself asking big questions about meaning, purpose, or what really matters in your life. These questions can feel heavy, but they also hold the potential for deep transformation. Together, we can explore these themes so you can live more fully and intentionally.
Caregiver Support
Supporting a loved one with a mental illness is one of the hardest and most important roles you can take on—but it can also leave you feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and unsure of how best to help. I work with family members and caregivers to provide education about mental health, tools for navigating complex family dynamics, and strategies for setting healthy limits. Together, we can explore ways to break unhelpful reinforcement patterns and create a more balanced approach to caregiving—one that supports your loved one while also caring for your own well-being.
Grief and Loss
Grief can feel heavy.and isolating, whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a relationship, or a life you imagined. Together, we can create space to honor your loss and help you navigate the emotions that come with it. Therapy can support you in making meaning, easing the weight of grief, and finding a way forward with compassion for yourself.
Frequently asked questions
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At this time, I am applying to be in-network with Aetna plans.
If I am not in network with your insurance, you may use a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to pay for services.
You can also obtain a superbill to seek reimbursement for out-of-network services.
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55 minute sessions are $160 per hour.
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I provide an affirming space for LGBTQIA+ clients, with deep respect for the diverse ways we come to understand identity, relationships, and family.
As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I understand how important it is to have a therapist who gets it—not only intellectually, but from lived experience.
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For most people, therapeutic work is non-linear and change takes longer than we’d like; so feeling like therapy hasn’t worked is pretty common. Fortunately, there are important changes that occur even when we have not yet reached our goals. Our work will build on all of your past therapeutic and life experiences, to find the keys to the change you want to have.