Reshaping My Practice
We’ve all heard the airline safety briefing “In the event of a sudden change in cabin pressure, put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others”. As a therapist, I have repeated some version of this metaphor to my clients hundreds of times. “We cannot pour from an empty cup.” “True self-care isn't selfish”. These are all prerequisites for showing up for others.
A few months ago, life decided to test just how well I practiced what I preached and out of nowhere, I experienced a sudden and entirely unexpected medical emergency. It was a stark, humbling moment that required me to immediately step away from my practice to focus entirely on my own survival and healing.
Taking that step back was incredibly difficult. I know firsthand how vulnerable the therapeutic relationship is. I know how much my clients rely on consistency and predictability. Choosing to pause my work felt like pulling the rug out from under the very people I committed to supporting. But it was a literal "oxygen mask" scenario, if I didn't save myself first, I wouldn't be capable of holding space for anyone else.
Now, a few months later, I am happy to share that I am recovering exceptionally well. In fact, this period of forced pause didn't weaken me, it catalyzed a profound evolution. It brought immense clarity, a renewed sense of energy, and a deliberate restructuring of my practice.
Here is what that time away taught me, and where we are going next:
1. A Deeper, Lived Integration of Trauma and Vulnerability
I have always approached trauma through the lenses of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), IFS (Internal Family Systems), and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). I understood the theory, and I had deep empathy for my clients.
But living through a medical crisis gave me a raw, firsthand appreciation for what my clients experience. I suddenly found myself navigating:
The trauma of a body that unexpectedly felt unsafe.
The anxiety of facing something massive, unpredictable, and entirely out of my control.
The psychological weight of a sudden life disruption.
Navigating my own physical and emotional healing over the last few months didn't diminish my capacity as a clinician, it sharpened it. I return to this work with an even deeper, more resonant understanding of what it means to sit in the discomfort of a major life upheaval and bravely piece things back together.
2. From Physical Healing to Physical Spaces: A New Focus
While I was recovering, I spent a lot of time focusing on both my emotional and physical well-being. As I regained my strength, I found myself drawn to organizational projects around my own home. I began to notice a profound parallel between the internal clutter we clear in therapy and the external clutter we accumulate in our physical environments.
This realization helped me reevaluate my business and identify where my true clinical passion lies. I am choosing to shift my focus from a generalist trauma approach to a highly specialized niche: addressing chronic disorganization. Think of it as becoming a clinical Marie Kondo of sorts. Clients wanting to tackle the intersection of mental health and physical clutter have always been some of my absolute favorite people to work with. Our homes and spaces are often external blueprints of our internal worlds.
I will still be utilizing the exact same evidence-based frameworks I always have, but applying them to our relationship with our environments:
EMDR to process the trauma, grief, or past memories attached to holding onto physical items.
IFS to understand the "parts" of us that use clutter as a protective shield or experience deep anxiety around letting go.
ACT to help us accept the discomfort of change and make space for what truly aligns with our values.
Who I Am Excitingly Catering To
As I step back into the office with renewed energy, I am tailoring my practice to specific populations who are ready to confront this overwhelm:
Millennials Navigating Aging Parents: Helping adult children support their aging parents through the emotional process of downsizing, without getting sucked into taking on generations of inherited family "stuff" out of guilt.
Gen Z and Overconsumption Culture: Working with young adults bombarded by hyper-targeted consumerism, helping them deconstruct the urge to overconsume and manage the anxiety of digital and physical clutter.
Anyone Buried by the Overwhelm: If you are experiencing deep overwhelm around your clutter and genuine psychological pain associated with getting rid of things, you are exactly who I want to sit with.
Moving Forward
This medical detour was unexpected, but it was not a setback. It was a catalyst. I am returning to my practice not as someone who is fragile, but as someone who is deeply energized, fully capable, and incredibly excited to hold space for this next chapter. I am maintaining my deep love for working with college students facing life transitions (whether it’s the massive transition of moving out of a childhood home, adjusting to the chaotic new life phase of being a college student, or preparing for what is beyond graduation, I am here to help navigate that shifting terrain still, but I am about to start shifting my practice to lean more into the space of chronic disorganization. I will post far more about topics related to this in the upcoming weeks!
If you are ready to look at the clutter, both inside your mind and inside your home, and gently, effectively work through the pain of letting go, I am ready to do that work with you. Let’s face those mountains!
