Connect with your Voice

Our sense of self and identity is heavily influenced by the relational contexts (i.e. family unit, community, religious and/or ethnic culture, etc.) we find ourselves living within. However, few folks grow up in a context that perfectly fits who they are uniquely are. Fractures between who we authentically are and the relational contexts we find ourselves in can create feelings of disconnection, loneliness, depression, shame, low self-worth, and anxiety in part because of our inherent need as well as external pressure to stay connected and belong in our community.

If, in addition to this common experience, you’ve received messages from your relational contexts that the things you instinctively do (whether on purpose or by mistake) are “wrong,” or you experience a trauma or series of traumas at a young age, a person can internalize a message that they are wrong — that there is something inherently bad or wrong about who they are. This can impact what Gilligan (1982) and colleagues refer to as a person’s sense of Voice: how we show up in relationship is often reflected through our voice, and our sense of voice is often impacted by our experiences in relationship. Our voice, via our sense of self, can become silenced or shaky, or firm and confident depending on our experiences. Within our therapeutic relational context that we co-create together, my hope is to provide you a space where you can become curious about these messages and the parts of yourself that feel impacted. With this foundation, we may be able to work together to heal any wounds and renegotiate an internal narrative that feels more accurate to who you are and what is true about you, thus cultivating a sense of Voice that feels authentic to you.