In psychotherapy, we work toward your goals. To uncover goals, I often ask the question, “What would be the best thing that could come out of our work together?”
While I work with a variety of issues, here are some specializations in my practice:
- Navigating anxiety, imposter syndrome, or self-doubt
- Processing the effects of abuse and trauma
- Reducing self-criticism and creating a self-compassionate inner landscape
- Exploring internalized shame and improving self-esteem
- Working through difficult, all-encompassing emotions
- Gaining insight about emotions, thoughts, beliefs, and relational patterns
- Navigating life conflict, transitions, loss, and change
- Navigating relationship anxiety
- Building stronger relationships with self and sense of identity
- Increasing capacity for self care, coping, and maintaining emotional wellness
- Navigating challenges related to LGBTQ2S+ identity
If you are currently struggling with thoughts of suicide or self-harm, my practice is unfortunately not a good fit. I am happy to provide referrals to psychotherapists who can better meet your needs.
If you’d like to explore how I work with some of the above issues, you can explore that here:
Identity and Self-Esteem – I use a narrative approach to collaboratively examine the cumulative experiences that shape our identity. We often hold stuck concepts of ourselves as problematic or not good enough. Our minds may focus on thoughts, feelings, and stories that are saturated with issues and we often become defined by these things. I hope to support people to shift their perspective and thought processes to uncover preferred identities. A common goal of psychotherapy is enhanced self-esteem and a changed sense-of-self that is built on skills, values, commitments, and hopes.
Trauma, Violence, Abuse, and Survival – I use a trauma-informed approach while supporting survivors to live in the present moment, reduce overwhelm from thoughts of the past, and feel safe. If you have experienced trauma you may be living with normal but unwanted effects of trauma, which may include anxiety, depression, fear, shame, anger, sleep issues, dissociation, and issues in relationships. I work with people to make new meaning from painful past experiences, regulate unwanted physiological experiences, and establish a sense of safety in their body and mind. I support people to develop a sense of awareness and acceptance of how their body and mind is responding to traumatic events by providing evidence-based information about what trauma is and how we can attend to it. I have experience working with survivors of childhood abuse as well as survivors of violence/abuse that occurred in adulthood.
Difficult Emotions – Many emotions can have unwanted impacts in our lives, such as anxiety, sadness, shame, and anger. However, all emotions can provide us with information about our wants, needs, and values. I use an approach of curiosity and non-judgement to support you to better understand these emotions and change their presence in your life.
Life Conflict – Many people experience challenges related to life transitions, relationship issues, family conflict, and significant role changes. I have familiarity working with parents going through separation/divorce, youth struggling with family challenges, and individuals hoping to cultivate happy intimate relationships with others. If there is something big happening in your life, psychotherapy may be useful to reduce stress and move through change with acceptance.
Mindfulness, Acceptance, and Self-Compassion – We have many tools we can use as emotional resources to surf the waves of life. Using these tools may be supportive to meet your therapeutic goals. Practices can be integrated in sessions or can be delivered through activities, such as guided meditations.
Discrimination, Oppression, and Navigating Systems – I acknowledge that larger societal issues can impact our mental health, well-being, and identity. If these issues play an unwanted role in your life, you are welcome to bring them into our conversations. I use an anti-oppressive approach to understand how power, privilege, and oppression impact our lives.
Clare Karasik, MSW, RSW 