Individual Counseling

In therapy, my role isn’t to judge you or tell you how to live. Instead, I try to support you in finding clarity. What are the patterns that keep you stuck? What practical tools do you need to move forward?

My approach is active, collaborative, and focused on helping you accomplish real goals—not just talking about problems without creating change. A typical sweater therapist, one who nods and says statements like “that must be hard” is as far from my process as one can get. You deserve better!

Who I Work With And How Sessions Work

I work with individuals from many different backgrounds and life stages, but I specialize in working with men’s issues (i.e. intimacy, communication, sexual anxiety), working moms (including new moms), anxiety disorders, and substance use recovery.

Sessions are virtual, which allows flexibility for busy schedules. I offer video appointments and phone appointments, depending on whatever you need for your busy schedule.

For clients local to Portland, ME, I also offer occasional walk-and-talk sessions, where therapy takes place outdoors while walking, most often in Scarborough, ME.

When Should You Start Individual Counseling?

Many people assume therapy is only for moments of crisis, but counseling can be helpful long before problems become overwhelming. In fact, many individuals benefit most when they begin therapy while they are still functioning but noticing that something feels off.

You might consider starting therapy if anxiety feels constant, if stress from work or parenting feels difficult to manage, if you find yourself repeating the same patterns in relationships, or worries managing recovery from substance use and other ways to deal with life on life’s terms. Others reach out because they feel emotionally exhausted and disconnected from self. Let’s stop living life in auto-pilot!

My Approach to Individual Therapy

My work with individuals combines several evidence-based approaches that focus on both emotional insight and real-life change. I integrate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), somatic therapy, polyvagal-informed nervous system work, attachment-based therapy, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused techniques.

This combination allows us to explore what is happening beneath the surface—your emotions, nervous system responses, and relationship patterns—while also identifying clear goals and concrete steps toward change.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

All of my work is grounded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I try to live my life from this lens. ACT focuses on building psychological flexibility, which means learning how to stay present and move forward even when uncomfortable thoughts or emotions show up.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy focuses on an idea that many of my clients are intrigued by- our brains have not developed since the caveman era. In modern day, we are overstimulated and obsessed with the illusion of happiness. Once we discuss this idea, we follow modules I’ve developed to learn four mindfulness skills, get clear on core values, and then be able to take effective action.

It helps us align with the person we want to be. For example, someone may tell me that they value their friendships 10/10. With some exploration, we may gather recent evidence that contradicts this (i.e. this individual isn’t responding to texts from friends for weeks).

If this is the case, we look how to create alignment between your values and how you effectively you integrate them in your life. You can crush goals, but our goals are mountains, your values give you a direction in which to move.

Nervous System & Somatic Therapies

Many emotional struggles are deeply connected to how the nervous system responds to stress. When the body perceives threat or overwhelm, it can move into patterns of fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. I’ve seen polyvagal-informed therapy and somatic therapy transform lives, especially as it relates to trauma and anxiety.

Through somatic therapy and polyvagal-informed approaches, we work on recognizing when your nervous system becomes activated and learning ways to regulate those responses. This might include developing body awareness, practicing grounding techniques, and learning how to calm stress reactions before they spiral into anxiety or shutdown.

A common client I see who benefits from this intervention is men with an abundance of work stress, while trying to show up differently in their family lives. Expectations in their roles, coupled with the restrictions of traditional masculinity, can create a man who may seem in control, but inside, is in a state of panic.

As is the case with all therapy with me, we utilize tools to ensure we make progress on calming your nervous system. It is your birthright to feel regulated, and sometimes, even, good.

Attachment Patterns & Relationships

Our early relationships often shape how we experience closeness, trust, and conflict later in life. Attachment-based therapy helps identify patterns such as fear of rejection, emotional withdrawal, difficulty trusting others, or feeling responsible for everyone else’s needs.

A common example I see here is anxiously attached adults, who feel let down and abandoned by friends and intimate patterns.

One of the many ways we approach this is by finding a sense of radical acceptance for a deep need for security.

Another strategy is, taking responsibility when you are triggered and work on not acting out of emotional flooding. By understanding these patterns, therapy can help you develop healthier ways of relating to others while also strengthening your relationship with yourself.

Working with “Parts” in Relationships (IFS-Informed Therapy)

I also incorporate elements of Internal Family Systems (IFS) in my work with couples.

IFS is based on the idea that we all have different “parts” of ourselves—such as protective parts that become defensive during conflict, or vulnerable parts that feel hurt, rejected, or misunderstood.

In relationships, these parts can become activated quickly, which is why arguments sometimes escalate even when both partners want the relationship to work.

Parts work helps understand deep feelings underneath conflict, respond with curiosity instead of blame, ultimately seeking support from one another in more effective ways.

Substance Use & Motivational Interviewing

For individuals struggling with alcohol or substance use, I incorporate Motivational Interviewing, a collaborative approach designed to strengthen motivation for change.

Rather than pressuring someone toward a specific outcome, motivational interviewing helps clarify personal goals, explore ambivalence, and identify what truly matters to you.

Substance use often develops as a way of coping with stress, anxiety, or emotional pain, so therapy focuses on addressing those underlying challenges while building sustainable strategies for recovery and stability.

I’ve worked with many affected others (partners, family members) and value this work deeply. I also work with people well into their recovery journey, on unfolding trauma and old narratives that they’ve yet to let go of in their sober lives.

A Solution-Focused, Goal-Oriented Approach

While emotional insight is important, therapy should also lead to meaningful change. My style is solution-focused and direct, helping clients identify clear goals and build realistic steps toward achieving them.

Whether the goal is reducing anxiety, improving emotional regulation, navigating parenting stress, strengthening relationships, or moving toward recovery from substance use, therapy becomes a process of building momentum toward the life you want to live.

Individual Counseling Near Me

If you’re searching for individual counseling near me, at The Rising Sun Counseling, I provide individual therapy for adults navigating intimacy, anxiety, work & parenting demands, substance use concerns, and life transitions (i.e. retirement). My work integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), somatic therapy, polyvagal-informed nervous system work, attachment-based therapy, and motivational interviewing.

Sessions are primarily virtual, allowing flexibility for busy schedules, in Maine, Massachusetts, Florida, and New Hampshire. Limited walk-and-talk sessions available around Portland, ME for local clients. Walk and talks often take place on a trail in Scarborough, ME. Sessions can also be done via Google Meets, a video meet platform, or via phone, which works quite well for some of my clients.

Trusted & valued by clients & colleagues

Therapy is designed to help you better understand yourself, regulate stress, and take meaningful steps toward the life you want to create.

Start Individual Counseling

If you’re looking for therapy from a clinician that is authentic, real, supportive, and focused on meaningful progress, I am that professional.

Whether you’re navigating anxiety, burnout, substance use challenges, parenting stress, or simply feeling stuck, therapy provides a space to slow down, gain clarity, and move forward with intention.

At The Rising Sun Counseling, my goal is to help you understand yourself more deeply while building practical strategies that support lasting change. I work quite diligently to create a warm space, while utilizing clinical skills to keep us moving forward, together.