Hi! I'm Andrea Freeman, LICSW
(she/her)

I help individuals — adults healing from the past, new moms, and cycle-breaking parents at any stage — find their way back to who they are beneath the patterns, the pain, and the stories they inherited. Through somatic therapy, parts work, and Brainspotting, we work where words alone can't reach.

 

​If you've found your way here, you might be...

• ​A survivor of a childhood that was unpredictable, unsafe, or unstable. You might now recognize your caregivers as showing signs of emotional immaturity or narcissism. You may have been impacted by abuse, neglect, or chronically unmet emotional needs. You may have thought you were "past it" now that you're out of that situation, but perhaps you are still navigating tricky relationships with the people who caused harm, or you're tired of old feelings or patterns rising to the surface and derailing you from what you most want out of life.​

• ​A new or expecting mom who is feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or like you no longer recognize yourself. Motherhood is often so much different than expected, and it is a time when we can be especially vulnerable to re-experiencing elements of past trauma through various triggers specific to the perinatal period: the birthing experience, unexpected physical complications, postpartum depression and anxiety, and a general sense of feeling like you've been knocked off your feet.

• You are navigating your own ongoing journey of healing from the past while striving to offer your kids what you may not have received for yourself. You might have a strong determination to end certain generational patterns, but perhaps you find yourself under the thumb or perfectionism or struggling with stories of shame every time you fall short of the ideal. You realize can't continue to white-knuckle it, and you're ready to allow in some support to help you find your groove.

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You Don't Have to Do This Alone

Therapy can provide a space to become unstuck; to notice the ways you have adapted to overwhelming experiences, and start to move your nervous system towards a deeper sense of safety. The experience of feeling deeply seen and heard can be a powerful catalyst in helping you lean in to your own intuition, wisdom, and confidence. New mothers may begin to find firmer footing as they evolve into their new identity. Trauma survivors may begin to notice strengthened ability to choose themselves instead of self-abandoning. Cycle-breaking parents may find great benefit in creating space to tend to their own tender inner spaces so that they can show up as confident leaders in their families. 

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What I Offer

I feel so fortunate to be able to offer a soft landing place for my clients. I bring 13 years of clinical experience, and am trained in a variety of  modalities that I adapt to meet your specific needs and goals for therapy. I believe therapy is less about making all the hard stuff go away, and more about learning to be with what is with greater capacity and self-compassion. We tend to favor an individualistic mindset in our culture, which can lead to over-pathologizing. Our suffering can often stem from systemic factors: inequality, patriarchy, racism, poverty, and more. Externalizing the social narratives and influences that have shaped your world can alleviate some of the self-blame many of us carry without even realizing it. Motherhood and trauma healing are often deeply intertwined with cultural myths, such as the ever-elusive notion of a good mom, and the harmful messages to survivors to forgive and forget. Acknowledging these outside influences can create space for your own genuine beliefs and values to come forward. You might find that understanding how you have adapted to situations outside of your control leads to a great sigh of relief as you realize that you are not to blame and you have always been doing the best you can.

 

You are much more than any diagnosis or list of symptoms, and it would be a privilege to hear your story and companion you on your healing journey. I take an active and collaborative approach in sessions, offering tools, perspectives, and experiential practices. Clients often describe my style as gentle, warm, and kind. I may challenge you at times, but always with the spirit of deep caring.
 

 

 

 

 

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