Women who work with me leave the therapy space feeling congruent, empowered, and more loving of who they are. They have a deeper ability to recognize their accomplishments, confidence, and self-assurance. They learn how to use their capabilities and are prepared to handle the challenges that life throws their way.

Women are changing history at amazing rates and through advancements once thought out of our reach. My clinical work is also informed by my research on specific challenges unique to women. I recognize that for many, finding your voice and taking up space continues to be a challenge often met with pushback. In spite of the obvious positive aspects of upward mobility, it has long been recognized that the perceived backlash and negative or mixed messages women may face in education and career can be a source of concern or stress. Women’s advancement allows for new opportunities and resources not previously available to women; however, it can be a source of anxiety and distress. Gender differences in distress are often a result of women’s greater exposure to specific psychological stressors, role-related stress, social vulnerability, a lack of support, and perceptions of gender-appropriate behaviors. There often comes a “hidden cost of mobility” including the stressors caused by negative interactions with family members, as well as the separation from one’s community both literally and figuratively, and unexpected resource sharing. When a woman experiences a shift in her social status through the mobility process, it is likely she will experience distress from a variety of sources not experienced by her male counterparts. For example, she may feel a sense of distancing from her family and community as she starts feeling different from them or keeps hearing messages such as “have you found Mr. Right yet?” or “Don’t you think you should get a job that allows you to spend more time with your children?” Exploring effective means to ameliorate the causes of some of the distress experienced may help reduce some of the inequalities that still exist for women in both academia and the world of work. Not only is therapy an important intervention for helping oneself, it is often a means to feel more empowered to create ongoing and lasting change in your life and the lives of important women in your life.

(Excerpts from: The Psychological Distress Experienced in Women Seeking Educational Upward Mobility: The Role of Backlash, Self-Esteem, and Race)