Hi! I’m Katelyn
PTSD and Trauma-Focused CBT
Domestic Violence
Sexual Assault & Abuse
Attachment & Interpersonal Relationships
Professional Philosophy
We are each unique individuals from all walks of life with different views, even if we're peering through the same window. Our experiences are as unique and ever-evolving, as is the way our brains respond to them. The dynamic nature of humans and the way they think, process, and respond demonstrate the importance of a personalized and adaptable therapeutic approach. My mission is to guide clients in exploring and understanding the intricacies of their brains and their remarkable capacity for change.
Oftentimes, certain patterns in our brain can hold us back from realizing our full potential and self-worth. Together, we will use creative methods to rewire and refire your brain, improving your reasoning, emotional control, engagement, confidence, and outlook on life. The journey to self-improvement may seem daunting and lonely, but much like creating art, the process can be just as rewarding as reaching your end goal. My ultimate aim is to support you wherever you are in your journey towards becoming your best self.
“A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking because its trust is not on the branch but on its own wings.”
― Charlie Wardle, Understanding & Building Confidence”
Personal Background
When I initially started considering myself as an artist, my thoughts were in conflict. My inner critic turned into a judgemental perfectionist. Everything I attempted to make never met the critics' demands, which prevented me from getting started or finishing most things. The struggling artist became even more compromised when I broke my dominant hand and needed surgery. The artist was off the hook, but the art student was doomed. I catastrophized the situation and felt my life and purpose had to be put on pause.
This experience and outcome helped me fully realize the power of art as therapy and helped redefine who I thought I was, the artist within, and my work. While teaching myself how to paint and draw with my left hand, I learned that my art/work was not defined by how good it looked but by how good it felt. My canvas and the story it tells are greater than the "mistakes" I thought I was making. The mistakes that had prevented me from fully experiencing what I was meant to do and who I am meant to be. A lesson that has ensured I routinely practice what I preach!
AREAS OF FOCUS
All of us here at START address the mental health areas of stress, trauma, and anxiety in our practice. We apply these three topics to unique, specific challenges that our clients are going through. I also offer specialized areas in the following areas:
Trauma and PTSD
Triggers from trauma can go undetected or normalized and can significantly impact the quality of one's life. Through psychoeducation and trauma-informed processing, we can bring awareness to responses that may be unconscious or automatic. In learning how to navigate symptoms, clients begin to better manage complex emotions, reactions, increase autonomy, and enhance psychological and physiological safety. If you have experienced trauma or may be suffering from PTSD, let’s work together to begin your journey to healing!
Attachment
The way we form relationships is based upon our concepts of attachment with parents and caretakers in childhood. Our relationships in childhood predetermine how we expect the world to respond to us, the way in which it works, and how we recreate the familial dynamics in future relationships. Having a healthy attachment style with a therapist can benefit clients through having a secure and consistent base of new expectations and goals for future relationships. In therapy, we can work together to identify your personal needs in order to feel secure within yourself and with others.