Therapy for Adults Who Never Feel Good Enough — Despite Their Accomplishments
I work with adults who are deeply capable — and deeply tired. People who handle a lot, anticipate others' needs, and often feel anxious, resentful, or ashamed because they can't seem to relax into the sense that they're okay.
If you grew up with critical, emotionally unavailable, or immature parenting, you may have learned early to be strong, helpful, and low-maintenance. You may also have learned to treat your own needs like inconveniences.
Therapy is where we begin reversing that pattern — gently, consistently, and in a way that holds up in real life.
The Framework
The Three Pillars of Secure Attachment
Safety
Learning to recognize what doesn't feel right — and protect your time, energy, and wellbeing without guilt, shame, or over-explaining.
Soothing
Developing the ability to tend to your feelings warmly and kindly — so anxiety, depression, and overwhelm don't run the show.
Cherishing
Learning what it feels like to be seen, validated, nurtured and cared for — without having to earn it.
What We Might Work On
Depending on What You Need
🛡️ If Safety Didn't Feel Consistent
- Noticing "this doesn't feel right" sooner
- Saying no without guilt, over-justifying, shame, or blame
- Boundaries that protect your time, energy, and relationships
🤲 If You Didn't Get the Soothing You Needed
- Shifting inner talk from critical to accurate and kind
- Mind-body tools (breathwork, grounding, movement) to ease anxiety and low mood
- Understanding the fear beneath the inner critic
- Building an inner ally who is steady and supportive
💛 If You Didn't Feel Cherished
- Developing warmth and genuine liking for yourself
- Changing your relationship with your body (often intensified in midlife transitions)
- Moving away from over-giving and learning to receive
- Cultivating pleasure, rest, and self-respect without earning them first
How I Work
Evidence-Based Methods
I don't believe in one-size-fits-all therapy. I draw from approaches that help you feel safer inside yourself and more able to live your life without the constant pressure to perform. Depending on what you're working on, I may incorporate:
Attachment-Based Therapy
+To help you build a deep sense of security within.
Parts Work
+Similar to IFS, but focused on creating a warm, caring adult self to gently replace your inner critic.
EMDR
+To shift entrenched self-limiting beliefs and ease anxiety faster than traditional talk therapy.
Hypnotherapy
+To shift unconscious beliefs and behaviors in the safety of a deeply relaxed state.
Mind-Body Practices
+To help you tune into your emotional and physical needs for deeper self-awareness and to undo self-neglect.
Mind-Body Symptoms
Chronic Pain & Mind-Body Symptoms
Some clients come to therapy with chronic pain or other stress-related symptoms that haven't been fully resolved through medical care — migraines, digestive issues, pelvic pain, and more.
When it's appropriate (and always alongside proper medical evaluation), we can explore the mind-body connection with gentleness and rigor — especially where pressure, perfectionism, hypervigilance, or long-term emotional suppression may be contributing to the nervous system staying stuck in "on" mode.
Rhythm
Why Every-Other-Week Therapy?
I work primarily every other week. For many high-functioning adults, the time between sessions becomes part of the work: practicing boundaries, noticing patterns in real life, and building self-trust through lived experience — not just insight.
If you want a steady, deeper process that respects your capacity and your time, this rhythm often works beautifully.
Is This Right for You?
Good Fit / Not a Fit
This work is a good fit if you…
- Are high-functioning and want meaningful change, not just symptom management
- Can reflect between sessions and practice small, doable shifts
- Want to reduce guilt, resentment, self-criticism, and shame
- Want relationships that feel more mutual and less performative
This may not be a fit if you…
- Need a higher level of care or are in active crisis
- Are seeking weekly long-term sessions and can't work within an every-other-week rhythm
- Need in-network insurance coverage (I'm private pay)
Ready to Talk?
The best way to know if we're a good fit is a conversation. The first step is free.
Schedule a Free 30-Minute Consultation