Working with

Dr. Mika-Lude

Being the person others rely on can make it feel a little (or a lot!) uncomfortable when you're the one seeking support. 

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I work primarily with first responders, healthcare professionals, therapists, and others in high-impact professions. You may be dealing with trauma, anxiety, burnout, compassion fatigue, chronic stress, relationship strain, or the cumulative impact of repeatedly showing up for others during their worst moments. Maybe you're still functioning and doing what needs to be done, but it feels harder than it used to, or it's taking more out of you. Let's figure out why and what might help you feel more like yourself again.

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My approach is both collaborative and holistic, focusing on you as a whole person and working with you to identify the source(s) of a problem in addition to reducing symptoms. Together, we'll take a look at your thoughts/beliefs, feelings, behaviors, and - perhaps most importantly - your nervous system. Understanding how your nervous system responds to cues of safety and threat can help us identify sources of distress, develop coping skills, and build resilience. By "getting to know" your nervous system, we'll uncover patterns that may no longer be useful and work toward developing different, more constructive ways of being.​

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To support that process, I use Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), an evidence-based therapeutic approach for healing trauma, and other "bottom-up" approaches that integrate both mind and body.

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Being good at helping others doesn't make you immune to the impact of what you witness, absorb, or carry. You don't have to know exactly what you need from therapy or even have the "right" words to explain what you've been going through. We can start with what feels harder than it used to, what's taking more out of you, and what you want to be different.