SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT
Schedule your first appointment. For follow up appointments (existing clients), please contact your therapist at 773-774-4444.
Insurances I Accept:
Ages I work with:
Languages I speak:
Hi! My name is Ava (she/her) and I am a therapist that works with adults. I highly value showing up authentically as a clinician and I invite my clients to do the same. Through granting those I work with the time and space to be freely themselves; I offer the opportunity to feel seen and heard as a unique individual. I believe as humans, we heal through relationships and therapy can be a powerful tool to do so. I aim to develop meaningful and powerful relationships with my clients where we can work collaboratively together to deconstruct relational patterns, process complex emotions, and create room for new perspectives and possibilities. Empowering my clients is of the utmost importance for me, as I will be there to cheer you on at every step of the way. I feel very blessed to be in this profession as a therapist, as it is an honor to bear witness to the incredible stories, bravery, and transformative perseverance of those I work with. I am a cisgender, White woman who identifies as spiritual (non-religious).
As a therapist, I see the client as the expert of their own life. I strongly believe in utilizing a warm, person-centered, relational approach with an emphasis on harnessing strengths that my clients naturally possess. My therapeutic style combines psychodynamic practice with DBT and CBT skill building. I would also love to invite creativity and art therapy into the space only if requested by the client! As a clinician, I tailor my approach to your unique needs as an individual while considering intersectional identities at play.
I pride myself in being open minded and nonjudgmental, so you can feel comfortable sharing whatever you want because there is no such thing as TMI (too much information) in therapy. There is no, “right way” or “wrong way” to engage in therapy as a client. I will be there for it all the good, the bad, and the ugly, even on days where you don’t know where to even start. As an individual, I aim to be an advocate and ally to individuals of all backgrounds, religions, sexual orientations, and gender identities. Including social justice in my work is essential, as I operate through an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, perspective based in cultural humility. My work is trauma informed and I will go at your pace and within your comfortability.
I believe that the most powerful tool in therapy is the relationship between the therapist and the client, which is built on mutual respect and trust.
In terms of what to expect out of a typical session, my approach is casual and I like to start with getting to know each other before fully diving into heavier topics. It’s like building a house, for it to be built correctly, you must start with building a strong foundation first. I love inviting humor into our work, as sharing a laugh together can be especially healing. I like to ask my clients what information they think is the most important for me to know about them while also learning about any significant personal beliefs, worries, or hesitancies about therapy that you would like me to know. In the room together, you will be invited to do whatever makes you feel the most comfortable. I highly encourage bringing coffee, tea, snacks, fidgets, art projects, or other comfort items to sessions and utilizing the space in a way that works best for you whether that means laying with your feet up or sitting on the floor. I create a calm, relaxed environment for our sessions, ensuring privacy and safety. I am available for virtual telehealth and in-person therapy.
In my free time, my favorite hobby is tending to my ever-growing collection of plants while sipping on some good quality iced coffee. I also enjoy cooking, baking, knitting, and creating art. In the summertime, I think the best place to be is the beach, appreciating the sunshine with my friends. I am a big fan of reality tv, especially when I want to turn my brain off and unwind. I love trying new things, being spontaneous, and finding humor throughout the ups and downs of life.
I look forward to meeting you soon!
Schedule your first appointment. For follow up appointments (existing clients), please contact your therapist at 773-774-4444.