“Who we are and what we do are influenced by the stories that we tell about ourselves.
While we cannot always change the stories that others have about us, we can influence the stories we tell about ourselves and those we care about.
And we can, with care, rework or rewrite story lines of identity.”
Retelling the Stories of Our Lives | David Denborough
What Therapy Looks Like With Me
Effective therapy isn’t prescriptive—it’s not just learning a few coping skills to rush back to “normal.” I’m cautious of a one-size-fits-all approach to something as personal and powerful as our life experiences—whether it’s grief, childhood trauma, chronic illness, a sense of failure, or depression.
In our work together, we’ll uncover what nurtures your peace and hope, so that we know what future narratives of growth and possibility look like.
We’ll look at how your past continues to shape your present. We’ll explore the beliefs you’ve carried about yourself—how they influence your identity, and the way you relate to others. Along the way, we’ll clarify your motivations, values, and aspirations, helping you build a life rooted in what truly matters to you.
My approach is grounded in Narrative Therapy and postmodern thought, meaning I see problems in context—not as personal failings, but as experiences shaped by culture, relationships, and larger social forces. A key part of our work will be understanding how race, gender, faith, ability, or access to resources have shaped your self-perception and the ways you experience community and connection.
Together, we’ll work with the patterns and protective strategies you’ve developed over time, keeping the ones that support you and reshaping those that no longer serve you. This process helps shape who you are becoming—nurturing agency, confidence, gratitude, and, over time, a deeper sense of inner peace and contentment.
Our work is about building clarity, resilience, and choice—so you can step forward with a stronger sense of meaning, belonging, and hope.
Therapeutic Approach
While Narrative Therapy is central to my practice, I tailor the work to each client. I draw from a range of trauma-informed, relational, and culturally grounded modalities. My approach is adaptive, honoring your lived wisdom and inner resources.
I’ve received advanced training and in-depth mentorship in the following frameworks:
Narrative Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Attachment Theory
Psychodynamic Therapy
Schema Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Mindfulness and Radical Acceptance
Polyvagal Theory & Nervous System-Aware Work
Cultural Psychology
Intercultural Therapy (aka multicultural therapy)
African-Centered Psychology
Buddhist Psychology
Māori and Pacific Storytelling Traditions
Teachings of Sufi mystics, Taoist flow, Confucian ethics, and Stoic clarity