My Therapeutic Philosophy

I strongly believe that disability is not a bad word. It is a piece of information about the kind of needs that people have and how we can more effectively provide support. As social creatures, we all need help all the time. No one in our society is entirely self-sufficient. You probably don’t grow all of your food or build your own house. We all need each other to move through the world.

Understanding and harnessing intrinsic motivation and carefully inserting external reinforcers are both powerful ways to change behavior. By understanding this, we can help people shine by finding their passions, their preferences, and their skills. This then becomes a driving force in creating a meaningful and fulfilling life.

Working with individuals with a wide variety of communication styles has taught me so much about myself and how I live in the world. It has taught me to offer grace and to rethink so many of the assumptions we’re taught as children. It has shown me that there is no “correct” way to live in the world and we all have the responsibly to work with each other to create communities and environments that take everyone’s needs into consideration.

Core Assumptions

1.     “[therapy] is NOT a substitute for systemic and cultural change.” ~Decolonizing Therapy, (pg 183)

2.     When we acknowledge the systemic barriers and the absolute validity of rage that marginalized people experience, we can increase our empathy for the big feelings that come out. It’s our job to create a safe space for processing those feelings without judgment.

3.     There is no moral downside to adjusting an environment to meet someone’s needs. Everyone has the right to choose their interactions with the world and deserves the necessary support to navigate their journey.

4.     Every individual is valuable and has something meaningful to offer. While thriving may vary for each person, no one's path to success is more valid than another's.

5.     Communication takes various forms, and each child deserves a nurturing environment where they can flourish.