Identity is at the core of how I think about psychological health and what it means to be human. Our sense of self continues to evolve as we go through different phases of life, enter new relationships, and begin new pursuits. Identity is what consolidates our lived experiences into a narrative about who we are, and it’s the anchor that tethers the different versions of ourself together.

A strong identity gives us something to return to and grasp – a stronghold we can rely on during both good times and hard times. It allows us to weather failure, rejection, and uncertainty without losing our sense of worth or experiencing intense volatility in our emotional states. It affords us the capacity to fully enter a relationship, while also retaining a solid sense of who we are as a person. Identity helps us integrate the different, sometimes contradictory, parts of ourselves that can emerge during periods of stress.

Our identities are shaped—and sometimes challenged—by our life experiences. Take, for instance:

• A young adult who has struggled to reach the educational, professional, or personal milestones they expected may feel left behind and uncertain about who they are becoming or where their life is headed.

• A man who has spent much of his life molding himself to meet the needs of others, and now struggles to know what he wants for himself or develop a clear sense of who he is as a person.

• A retired professional who has spent decades building her career who finds herself wondering who she is outside of a role that has given her life meaning and direction for years.

Trauma, loss, relationships, failure, and major life transitions can challenge our sense of inner stability and security, and leave us feeling anxious, depressed, empty, or hopeless.

Therapy provides a space to understand how our life experiences have shaped us, recognize the patterns that may keep us from living as fully as we would like, and develop a stronger and more integrated identity. It’s a space where we can integrate the parts of ourselves that may feel disconnected, and where we’re able to build a more stable foundation from which to navigate relationships, difficult emotions, and important life decisions. The goal is not to become someone else, but to more fully understand and become ourselves.

• Individual Psychotherapy

• Psychological Testing

• Diagnostic Evaluations

Learn more about these services here.

(832) 271-0397

Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation by calling or by sending an email using the form below. I typically return contact within one business day.

Further practice information and access to the patient portal can be found here.