TRAUMA-INFORMED

Therapy that gets to the root.

California • Illinois • Online

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Designed for adults seeking better relationships.

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Here, you’ll find a place where you can cultivate a healthier connection with yourself and others.

This may be your place if
at times, there are parts of you that…

  • Whether you’re shrinking into your shell or baring your claws in conflict, your typical reactions are leading to dissatisfaction. You might have no problem "speaking your mind", but still feel like no one listens or values your opinion. Or maybe you try to avoid conflict completely. Staying quiet or agreeing just to keep things calm can feel easier. However, this often leads to feelings of frustration, being ignored, and not appreciated. These feelings of resentment and frustration build up under the surface until BOOM. Before you know it you have reacted in a blaming, shaming, or critical way. You don't want to have these types of outbursts, so guilt and shame kick in to make you retreat back into avoidance. And so the cycle continues.

  • You often prioritize others' needs over your own, over-and-beyond what is necessary as your role as parent, partner, colleague, or friend. This makes it hard for you to say "no" and leads you to take on too much. With all this energy spent on others, you have little time to care for yourself. In those rare occasions when you do muster up a "no", it comes with a hefty dose of guilt.

  • You might feel out of place or different from those around you. Although you enjoy being with others, you usually end up alone or avoid social plans. When you do socialize, you often need time alone afterward to recharge.

  • You notice eerily similar patterns in your relationships. Chances are you tend to attract the same type of people that bring the same type of dysfunction that you grew up with, such as a highly critical boss or emotionally-absent partner. If you are being honest, you also play a similar role in your relationships. Maybe you're overly responsible, taking on more than your share of work. Or maybe you're overly avoidant, procrastinating on the job and at home.

    Despite believing you've learned from past experiences and committing not to repeat mistakes, you end up in the same situations and feel dissatisfied.

  • You may be seen as reliable and strong in relationships. You are very responsible and highly capable. You think it's basic respect and expect others to do for you as you do for them, but are often disappointed. You've realized it’s often quicker and easier to just handle things on your own.

    Paradoxically, at other times, you feel like a complete fraud and seriously doubt your competence, especially when it comes to putting yourself out there. This part of you can make it hard to follow through with your goals and dreams.

  • You either dive deeply into something or completely avoid it. Activities like exercise, healthy eating, personal projects, work and self-care are areas where you might either be fully committed or have completely avoided. Finding balance is difficult, and you often swing between extremes of "all" or "nothing" in several aspects of your life.

  • You often fall into one of the unhealthy self-esteem traps: either feeling less than others or feeling superior. It is difficult to appreciate your unique qualities without diminishing yourself or others.

No matter your situation, you know that something's gotta give.

Calm space

That’s where I come in.

Hi, I’m Keri.

I offer trauma-informed individual therapy, couples therapy, and group therapy to adults who are working to build healthier relationships, recover from CPTSD, and overcome codependency.

My therapy style is best described as gentle + firm; supportive + direct; and, caring + playful. I know firsthand how challenging the work of therapy can be, and strive to co-create a space where you feel respected, supported, and cared for as you

get to the root of what’s holding you back from who and how you want to be.

Practice Areas

Together, we will work to:

  • Just as a plant needs soil, sunlight, and water to thrive, you also require nurturing conditions to grow emotionally and psychologically. We will focus on creating a supportive and caring environment within yourself and around you, allowing you to develop new emotional skills and healthier ways of relating to yourself and others. It's like tending to a garden, where you plant yourself in environments conducive to health and growth, and get the nutrients you might have missed in other environments.

  • When we prune plants, we selectively remove certain parts to redirect energy and resources. This process may seem harsh, but it's essential for the plant's overall health and functioning. Similarly, you hold certain beliefs, body responses, and patterns of reacting, often tied to stressful past experiences and dominant sociocultural influences, that may be hindering your well-being. These beliefs, body responses, and behaviors can act like constricting vines, limiting your emotional and psychological growth. Letting go of these limiting influences, like a gardener removing weeds, helps you connect more deeply with yourself and others.

Therapy Approach

  • Understanding that trauma affects each of us differently, I incorporate trauma-informed practices that are grounded in the neurobiological underpinnings of trauma. This approach recognizes how traumatic experiences can impact your brain and body, influencing your emotional responses and behaviors. By empowering you to navigate these feelings and responses, we can work together to build resilience and a sense of safety as we explore your experience together at your pace.

  • Your relationships play a vital role in your well-being, and I emphasize understanding how attachment patterns shape your interactions with others. This approach is informed by the neurobiology of attachment, which highlights how early relational experiences can affect brain development and emotional regulation. Together, we’ll explore the patterns that arise from your early experiences and how they influence your current relationships. By fostering an earned secure attachment, we can work toward healthier communication and deeper intimacy, enabling you to cultivate more fulfilling relationships in your life.

  • Our bodies hold valuable information about our emotional states, and I incorporate somatic-focused techniques that acknowledge the neurobiological connections between body and mind. By tuning into your physical sensations, we can uncover deeper insights into your experiences and cultivate a greater sense of safety and regulation. This holistic approach supports your emotional well-being and enhances your capacity to process and heal, acknowledging how trauma can manifest physically.

  • As a human first, social worker second, and therapist third, I’m passionate about dismantling harmful relationship dynamics that reflect broader systems of discrimination, marginalization, violence, and oppression. I believe that fostering interdependent relationships is essential for creating justice, equity, and love in our hearts, homes, and world.

  • I understand that you’re looking for real change in your life, and my approach is practical and solution-oriented. Together, we’ll identify actionable steps that align with your goals, values, and priorities. This makes the therapeutic process relevant and empowering, as we develop tools that you can use outside of our sessions, allowing you to create meaningful shifts in your daily life and relationships.

Ready for change?

Book a video consultation today.

I offer complimentary consultation calls to determine our compatibility for working together. These consultations are required prior to initiating therapy. Click the button below to conveniently schedule online now.

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