Welcome

Right now, something isn’t working. Maybe your emotions feel overwhelming, or maybe you just feel stuck.

As a licensed clinical psychologist, I work to understand your inner world  and use evidence based strategies to help you towards healing.

Approach

Cassandra primarily utilizes mindfulness-based interventions to facilitate self-understanding and behavioral change. She has received extensive training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and follows the guiding principles of this modality. She incorporates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients gain new perspectives and build a meaningful life. Additionally, Cassandra is trained in evidence-based treatments such as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD and anxiety disorders, Prolonged Exposure (PE), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD.  After beginning treatment, you will mutually decide which approach is right for you.

Evidence-Based Techniques

  • For those who often feel stuck in their head, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps to relate to difficult thoughts and emotions differently and engage in actions that truly bring meaning to your life.

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a skills-based modality created to manage intense emotions, impulsive behaviors, and difficulty in relationships. Mindful acceptance and behavioral change are practiced in balance to develop new ways of coping and relating to oneself. Radically Open-DBT is a helpful adaptation for those who are highly regulated or perfectionistic.

  • Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the gold standard to treat OCD, anxiety disorders, and panic. By gradually facing feared situations without engaging in compensatory behaviors, you will build resilience to anxiety and engage in aspects of life anxiety may have stolen.

  • Prolonged Exposure (PE) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) are evidence-based treatments for PTSD. Following a traumatic event, you may experience unwanted memories or feelings, avoidance, hypervigilance, or persistent numbness. PE works to gradually approach previously avoided situations or sensations, while CPT identifies and gently shifts unhelpful beliefs about yourself, others, and the world.

Book

Specialties

  • Emotional Dysregulation

    Emotions are a fundamental part of the human condition. However, for some, emotions may seem to come out of nowhere or last for a long time. You may feel completely overwhelmed or even numb. Intense emotions might lead to harmful behaviors, like self-harm, substance use, or interpersonal conflict. We will work to change these patterns by developing helpful coping strategies, build resiliency toward uncomfortable feelings, and cultivate internal safety over time. 

  • Anxiety

    Are overwhelming worry, intrusive thoughts, or uncomfortable physical sensations taking over? You might cope by avoiding, distracting, or constantly ruminating. Exposure protocols are considered the best practices for social anxiety, panic, generalized anxiety, or OCD to gradually tolerate anxiety and even embrace uncertainty.  When distress is related to past traumas, we will slowly and safely rewrite difficult memories. Mindfulness is also cultivated to notice habitual responses and adopt new, flexible ones to build a valued life. 

  • Perfectionism

    If you struggle with excessive self-control, exacting standards, and a tough inner critic, you may feel stuck or disconnected from others and the things that are most important to you. Through gentle exploration and rewriting of these patterns, we will increase self-compassion, flexibility, and authenticity in your life.

  • Life Transitions

    Times of change, such as adjusting to college, a new career, a loss, or ending a relationship can exacerbate symptoms that were previously well managed and stir up many emotions. Therapy can provide a supportive, nonjudgmental space to explore your values, problem solve, or simply sit with uncomfortable feelings and uncertainty.