A little about who I am, how I work, and whether we might be a good fit.
You might be someone who looks like you have everything together — but inside, it doesn’t feel that way. Maybe there’s this quiet pressure to be perfect, or a sense that things are slipping even when you’re doing your best to hold it all in place. Support hasn’t always been consistent, or right now, you just feel like you’re carrying more than you can manage on your own.
That’s actually where I start.
My name is April, and I’m a therapist at Empowerment Within in Waukesha. I work with people who are holding a lot — often more than they let on — and who are ready to do something more than just manage it.
What therapy with me actually looks like
Our first session isn’t an intake form brought to life. It’s a conversation. I want to know who you are, what’s been going on, and what’s brought you to this point — and I want you to get a feel for me, too. Therapy only works when the relationship feels real, and I take that seriously.
From there, we move at your pace. We usually start by identifying what’s already working for you — most people come in with more strength and resilience than they give themselves credit for. Then we figure out where to go next, together.
“I believe therapy works best when it feels collaborative and easy-going — open, judgment-free, and honest. You’ll get the structure and support you need without feeling like you’re sitting through a lecture.”
“Sometimes humor is one of the best coping skills.”
One of the main approaches I use is Parts Work.
A big part of the deeper work I do is something called parts work — If you’ve ever felt like two completely different sides of you are pulling in opposite directions, you already have a sense of what this means. You might logically know something about yourself is true — like “I did well” or “I’m capable” — while another emotional part says “I wasn’t good enough.” Both of those experiences can exist at the same time, even when they don’t make sense together.
Instead of trying to get rid of those conflicting parts, we slow down and get curious about them.
Each part of you developed for a reason. At some point, it was trying to help you cope, protect you, or make sense of something difficult. Even the parts that feel critical, harsh, or frustrating are usually trying to do something important.
So rather than arguing with those parts, we work to understand them. Where did they come from? What are they trying to protect you from? What do they actually need?
When we approach ourselves this way we feel understood, we soften — and the same is true internally. If we try to push parts of ourselves away, they tend to get louder. But when we take the time to understand them, things start to shift. The internal tension eases. Things feel less chaotic and more connected.
That’s where real self-compassion starts to grow.
I also use EMDR therapy as part of this work. (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
EMDR therapy helps your brain process experiences that didn’t fully get worked through and processed when they happened. When something overwhelming occurs, your nervous system can go into fight, flight, fawn, or freeze. When the brain goes into freeze—its last line of defense—it can essentially “pause” the experience, preventing it from being fully processed.
Because of this, the memory can feel stuck. Instead of being stored as something in the past, it continues to feel present, and your brain may keep replaying it, trying to make sense of it or resolve it. EMDR helps your brain move through that “stuck” point so the memory can be processed in a way that feels less intense and more manageable.
When that happens, those experiences don’t just stay in the past — they show up in the present as anxiety, depression, self-doubt, or feeling stuck in patterns you can’t fully explain. This might look like getting back into relationships with people you know are harmful to you. Or getting very defensive during light hearted conversations.
“EMDR uses bilateral stimulation — like side-to-side eye movements, tapping, or audio cues — while you focus on a memory or feeling. This helps your brain process what got stuck, so it doesn’t keep affecting you in the same way.”
It’s not just for clear, single-event trauma.
EMDR can be helpful for things like anxiety, depression, OCD, and even that feeling that something is off, even when life looks okay on the outside. A lot of our experiences — even ones we wouldn’t label as “trauma” — can still impact how we see ourselves and move through the world.
At the same time, EMDR isn’t something we rush into. It can be emotionally intense, and it works best when you feel prepared. That means we spend time building coping skills, creating a sense of safety, and identifying resources you can rely on before going into deeper work.
For some people, a shorter version called EMD can be helpful to reduce the emotional intensity of a memory without fully reprocessing it. Instead of working through all aspects of the memory, EMD focuses on helping the memory feel less intense and more manageable. During the process, you briefly bring up the memory while following bilateral stimulation and we track how the emotional intensity shifts over time. The memory is still there, but it does not carry the same emotional weight. This can be helpful if you need more immediate relief or want to build tolerance before doing deeper EMDR work.
Not everyone is in the right place for EMDR right away, and that’s okay. Part of my role is helping you figure out what makes the most sense for you and moving at a pace that feels manageable.
Is this the right fit for you?
You might be a good fit for working with me if you:
— Have tried therapy before but felt like you were only scratching the surface
— Are tired of managing symptoms and want to understand why they’re there
— Hold everything together on the outside but feel like something is quietly falling apart inside
— Are ready to do real work, but want it to feel human — not clinical
If you are ready to take the next step and fill out our contact form. I’m excited to start this journey with you!
Reach Out Now
We look forward to connecting with you!
