Patricia is accepting new clients for individual, couples, or family therapy and is seeing clients in person at our Zillicoa office or online.

People-pleasing 

People-pleasing is an effective survival strategy for many of us. By putting others’ needs before our own, you may believe you can secure being seen in a positive light– smart, playful, unique, hardworking, loyal… everything you perceive others want you to be. Imagining that others don’t see you this way can feel life-altering, especially if you are changing yourself for them! You may question who you are. You may feel like people know better than you, so your self-talk and self-image becomes critical. Maybe you were expected to put on a tough mask and put others’ needs before your own. Maybe you give your time, energy, and resources away without question. Now you are noticing your need for attention and your love to be directed towards you. You want to feel important and sturdy in your own power. We can work together to grow your strength, by supporting you in making the choices that put your needs at the forefront in an intentional and relational way. You may be surprised to find that when you start to step into your own power and stop people-pleasing, your relationship with yourself and others will improve.

Effective Communication

Communicating your feelings and perspective with others can be difficult, especially if the communication feels ineffective or unsustainable. Conversations may feel like they are going in circles; both you and the people you love are feeling misunderstood or hurt. You may experience performance every time you are in a social situation.  You may be required to associate with a group of people, like on a team, in a workplace, or in partnerships. You want to feel connected, engaged, and recognized, but just don’t know which way to go or how to say what is on your mind and heart. I enjoy supporting athletes, performers, artists, teammates, couples, in making communication creative, playful and productive, while simultaneously supporting you in emotional regulation. In sessions, this looks like using gestures, sand tray responses, simultaneous art, writing, walk-n-talks, relaxation techniques, and visualization as meaning-making tools. When you practice emotional regulation in a safe, interpretable, contained space, you can bring those skills into your communication with others. Together we will practice grounding skills, explore communication styles, and learn to name emotions so that you can foster lasting relationships by having skillful ways of relating. 

Overwhelm

Your life may seem chaotic, your thoughts may be jumbled, or you may find it difficult to separate your emotions from those of others. You want to feel peace, be patient, attentive, and lean on Nature’s rhythms, but life is moving too fast. There’s not enough time in the day, the sun and the moon change places without you even noticing the transitions. You feel like you’re burning the candle at both ends, like there is no way out of the spiral. I lean on Nature’s rhythms and use Expressive Arts Therapy to guide you in working towards homeostasis, finding meaningful moments that create lasting impacts. You will always have the option to go outdoors for your sessions with me. I use aspects of the natural world to support clients with regulation, like the smell of herbs, the sound of the wind or birds, the feel of the grass. My education and supervision in Art Therapy helps me to skillfully and impromptu use visual, aural, and kinetic metaphors to uncover and support you in meaning-making. At any time you may request that your session with me be interactive using things like various art supplies, meditation cushions, a basketball; all provided by me and easily accessible. Additionally you may bring in your own creations to process. 

About me:

Hi, I’m Patricia! I’m glad you are here. I received a Graduate degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Bachelor’s Degrees in Art Therapy and Psychology. I see life through a creative lens and in sessions I bring all aspects of expression  (writing, movement, painting, imagination, metaphor, sculpting, visualization, mindfulness, and time in nature into the space I share with you. Ultimatelyencouraging you to explore emotions and your inner worlds beyond words.I operate from a Relational Cultural Therapy lens, which believes in mutual impact, a striving towards ever increasing capacity for respect, and the outlook and willingness to have autonomy, while holding openness to being changed by the other. I work towards mutual empowerment, meeting you where you are, and inviting you to participate in daily practices to track change. I support my clients in building trust in their current skills and befriending their own power. Therapy is your journey! It is not something done to you–in working with me, you will be invited to make your own interpretations; I will be an educated, curious, and attentive guide. I understand that our voice feels small at times, that life circumstances beat us down which allows stress to build. My hope is to travel through the challenges together, so you have the skills to seek, notice, and create wellness.

Patricia is accepting new clients for individual, couples, or family therapy and is seeing clients in person at our Zillicoa office or online.

patricia@outofthewoodstherapy.com

Patricia can accept most Aetna, Optum/United, Medcost or BCBS insurance plans (and is a CPP provider for the NC BCBS state plan).

The private pay fee is $140 for 50-55 minute individual therapy sessions or $165 for family therapy.

If you would like to know more about using insurance or out-of-network benefits, please click here.