Together, we will collaborate on what YOU want to get out of therapy. Common issues include: anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, complex trauma, attachment wounds, life changes, loss, and the impact of narcissistic abuse. In our therapy sessions, we approach these challenges from a systemic perspective, taking into account the interconnected networks of relationships and societal structures that have contributed to these difficulties. This perspective allows you to make meaningful changes that resonate through all aspects of your life fostering healthier relationships and a more fulfilling life experience

Great communication is the heart of fulfilling relationships. It requires finding a balance between listening and speaking, going beyond just the words to understand the emotions and needs beneath. Many romantic partners find themselves trapped in patterns that don’t effectively meet these needs, leaving the longing for closeness unfulfilled. Together, we will work on breaking these cycles and focus on resolving past hurts and strengthening bonds. Whether you’re facing specific challenges or simply aiming to enrich your relationship, therapy offers valuable tools for lasting change and deeper connection.

Families today navigate a complex landscape of challenges that can test their relationships' resilience. Common stressors include life transitions, mental health struggles, financial pressures, and parenting conflicts, leading to communication gaps and emotional disconnects. These challenges reflect the complex interplay within the family dynamic. Family therapy provides a collaborative avenue to address these issues and the underlying patterns that drive them. This process is designed to strengthen the family unit, foster resilience, and create a nurturing home environment where each member feels valued and deeply connected.

Affirmative Therapy offers a tailored approach to supporting queer folx as individuals and within the context of their relationships and societal systems. Dr. Castro’s approach integrates the Gender Minority Stress Model and acknowledges the intricate stressors, such as discrimination and violence, that contribute to internalized stigma, all of which are magnified by the dynamics within families, social circles, and broader community interactions. Affirmative Therapy provides a validating environment to explore one’s identities and intersectionalities of experiences with gender and sexuality. Therapy facilitates a holistic journey toward self-acceptance, resilience, and empowerment by focusing on how external pressures and internal conflicts affect relationships and mental health. This collaborative process not only aids individuals in navigating personal and societal challenges but also seeks to transform systemic structures and barriers.

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is an evidence-based approach rooted deeply in the principles of attachment theory. By identifying and directly addressing the negative interactional patterns and emotional processing that lead to a variety of stressors, including relationship distress, depression, anxiety, and trauma, EFT guides individuals toward recognizing their emotional barriers and enhances their ability to communicate their attachment longings with clarity. The effectiveness of EFT is well documented in and supported by empirical, peer-reviewed outcome research, making it a powerful tool for creating lasting change. Its primary aim is to cultivate strong, secure, and resilient relationships with one’s self and with others.

Members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community often face a distinct set of challenges, ranging from societal stigma and discrimination to the intricate process of self-discovery and acceptance. These experiences are deeply rooted in wider social, familial, and relational fabrics that shape individuals’ lives. This underscores the importance of therapeutic services that not only affirm diverse identities, orientations, and relationships but also actively challenge homophobia, transphobia, and cisheterosexism. By adopting an approach that considers the systemic forces influencing the lives and experiences of queer folx, therapy can provide a supportive framework that acknowledges the complexity of these challenges and provides a space that fosters growth, healing, and empowerment.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Therapy is a transformative approach designed to help individuals process and heal from the effects of trauma. By targeting the way traumatic memories are stored in the brain, EMDR facilitates the processing of these memories, allowing for emotional healing and the lessening of trauma-related symptoms. Research has shown this therapy to be particularly effective for those grappling with PTSD, anxiety, and other stress-related issues. Through a structured series of sessions that include bilateral stimulation, EMDR helps individuals reframe negative beliefs and reduce physiological arousal associated with traumatic memories. The goal is to empower clients, enabling them to live more freely, unburdened by the past.

Navigating adolescence presents a unique set of challenges, from academic pressures and social dynamics to personal identity and emotional health issues such as self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and past trauma. Therapy offers a supportive space for young people to explore these issues and find a balance between gaining independence and maintaining connections with their families. As their brains undergo significant developmental changes, it’s vital to equip them with strategies for managing life‘s transitions and building resilience. Through a collaborative approach, therapy encourages self-discovery and skill development that provide tools for navigating the intricacies of growing up, including fostering understanding and communication that not only aids in overcoming current obstacles but also lays the groundwork for future challenges.

In the wake of infidelity or an affair, partners often find themselves at a crossroads marred by feelings of betrayal, hurt, and uncertainty about the future. The process of healing from infidelity or an affair involves navigating these emotions. This approach provides a supportive space for both partners to express their needs and feelings, which is crucial for the journey toward healing. This journey typically starts with acknowledging the deep emotional wounds inflicted by infidelity or an affair and attempting to uncover the underlying issues and communication breakdowns that led to the betrayal. It involves exploring strategies that can facilitate a path toward a stronger, more connected relationship and emphasizes the importance of mutual support, trust, and clear communication. The goal is to help individuals gain insights and develop coping mechanisms that enable them to understand and move beyond the pain of infidelity, fostering a sense of hope and potential for renewed relationship bonds.

Service members and veterans, along with their families, navigate a unique set of challenges, from the stress of deployments and the transitions between military and civilian life to coping with the experiences of combat and the often-overlooked emotional burden shouldered by family members during deployments. These experiences can lead to a need for support that extends beyond the individual to include spouses, partners, or the whole family unit. A therapist with a deep understanding of military life, including the distinct nature of military service and its effect on both the service member and their loved ones, can offer targeted assistance that addresses these difficulties and promotes resilience, healing, and the strengthening of family bonds.