“Once a woman becomes aware of the forces that influence her, she gains the power of that knowledge.”
I BELIEVE IN WOMEN’S WISDOM AND AUTHORITY.
I’m Sheryl, a psychotherapist in Madison, Wisconsin. Like you, I've experienced life's joys, challenges, and transitions. I've raised kids, changed careers, divorced and remarried, lost loved ones, and cared for both aging parents and tiny grandchildren. The supportive professional help I received during some of the roughest times in my life inspired me to become a therapist.
I’m also a feminist, which means that I believe that the well-being of all women is harmed by the countless gendered expectations and limitations placed on us. They may be subtle like vigilance we must practice to ensure our physical safety. They may be overt like the expectation that we perform the majority of the unpaid labor in our households. The negative effects of these inequities are real and measurable and they are often ignored by traditional psychotherapy..
I believe that our minds, bodies, emotions, and relationships exist interdependently.
When one aspect of our life is unable to flourish, the whole system can be put off balance. If our relationships are unsafe or the expectations placed on us feel overwhelming and unfair, we may find ourselves feeling anxious, depressed, dissatisfied, or struggling to assert our authority. This is usually a normal and reasonable reaction or our circumstances—not a form of mental illness.
I believe that healing begins when women share our stories.
When we explore the relationship between our received cultural constructs of womanhood and our most intimate thoughts and beliefs about ourselves, we gain the power to create change in our lives. It involves re-authoring our life stories in a way that creates meaning from our experiences and, in so doing, makes us more confident and visible to ourselves..
I believe that therapy is collaborative and relational.
In sessions I am engaged and expressive—I will give you space and time to think but will never sit by silently as you struggle. My first priority is that you feel safe within our relationship. Here are a few important things to know about me:
I am pro-choice and believe that women must have complete authority over their bodies and lives without exception.
I am anti-authoritarian and advocate for civil liberties, equality, and safety for all beings both in and out of the therapy room.
I do not work within the medical model of mental healthcare and will not label you with a diagnosis; however, I do support you working with your healthcare provider to find medications that may be helpful to you.
Learn more about how i work:
My Qualifications
I am a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in Wisconsin with an MS degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Level II training in EMDR Trauma-Resolution Therapy.