Angela Bristow

My therapeutic approach is grounded in the beliefs that counseling is a collaborative relationship and that the core work of healing and growth is to reclaim our authentic wholeness. I recognize this is no small task. We learn who we are is too much and seldom grow up with tools of rest, self-compassion, or self-curiosity. Gradually, we learn to disconnect from our own voice, dreams, values, boundaries, griefs, and joys. I work with clients to reconnect by developing a secure attachment with themselves, strengthening emotional processing, re-authoring the stories that shape their worldview, and by supporting them in building a meaningful and authentic life. My counseling style integrates the theories of emotion focused therapy (EFT), gestalt, somatic, narrative, and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). I value bringing in authentic humor and meaningful creative interventions.

I grew up in a mixed immigration status, multigenerational household and deconstructed from a high-control religion in early adulthood. Before pursuing counseling, I had the privilege of doing both birth and death work. I live with ADHD and chronic pain in a fat body. This background has taught me to work through the pain of feeling like a social outsider, of fighting to have an empowered voice, and also the beautiful and nuanced courageousness of people. I am passionate about life transitions, identity exploration, anger, environmental grief, highly sensitive persons (HSP), religious trauma and deconstruction, high achievers, adult third culture kids (ATCK), shame around sexual expression, ADHD, depression, and anxiety.