Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) is an interdisciplinary field that seeks to understand the mind and mental health. As a counselor who practices IPNB, I believe:

1. We can define what mental health looks like for you, but not based on your behavior. People who are mentally healthy are flexible, adaptive, coherent, energized, and stable (FACES). This state of being is as unique to you as your own fingerprints. I will respect what works best for you.
2. Most of the resources you need are already inside of you. I will help you identify and modify the internal and external barriers that are preventing the resources of your truest self from fully emerging.
3. Your early relationships matter a lot. Early in life, nature and nurture both influenced how you made sense of the world and guided who you became. Many of your early assumptions and adaptations are things you probably haven’t questioned until they began to interfere with your life. We will examine those assumptions to see if any are obstacles to living the life you desire.
4. Your body is a part of every memory. Memories contains five basic elements: sensations, images, behaviors, feelings, and meaning. Because sensations and feelings are embodied experiences, we will track what’s happening in your body to better understand the memories influencing your beliefs and behaviors.
5. Your brain is changing all the time. Neuroplasticity is the ability of your brain to form and reorganize connections throughout your entire life, particularly in response to learning or new experiences. This means that change isn’t just possible; it’s inevitable. So we will harness this ability to lead you to a more satisfying life.
6. Neural integration is the foundation for increasing well-being and can be nurtured through healthy relationships. Wellness springs from all the parts of your mind working harmoniously together. This is called neural integration. Being connected with another person where you are deeply valued and exceptionally safe is the environment from which neural integration emerges.
7. Healing and healthy living require whole-brain processing. The right and left hemispheres of your brain function differently and have equally important jobs. I will help you find balance so that you cane manage your life in a whole-brained way.
8. Mindfulness is a key agent of change. I will help you develop the ability to observe your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors without agenda or evaluation. I will encourage you to share my curiosity about their origin, so we can understand you more deeply. You are the way you are for really good reasons! Let’s find out what those reasons are. You will find that lasting change occurs only through radical acceptance.
9. My mental health matters to you. I am an imperfect, work-in-progress who is committed to continued growth through my own counseling, supervision, consultation, and continuing education. I do this to your benefit – so I can best care for you and provide you with the best counseling I can.