Amy Burke

Since you were a small child, you have taken care of everyone else, and by now, you are a pro at it. You can read the emotions of everyone in the room, and you feel responsible for making sure others are comfortable. When someone you love is hurting, you feel guilty and want to fix it for them, whether you were involved or not. It is easy to give empathy and understanding to everyone else, but you are extremely hard on yourself. Even when you have nothing left to give, you can't say no. You have definitely used the terms “people pleaser,” “perfectionist,” and/or “eldest daughter” to describe yourself. Everyone else thinks you have it all together, yet nothing you do ever feels good enough in your eyes. If you are here looking at my page, maybe you have decided these patterns aren't working for you anymore. I want you to know that I see you, and none of this is your fault. You were given way too much to carry from a young age, and you developed these habits to survive. Maybe you think, “It wasn’t that bad,” or “Other people have it much worse.” I’m here to tell you that what you went through was too much and can have lasting and debilitating effects. If this describes you and you are ready to finally break out of this cycle and start living for yourself, I believe I am the therapist for you! My goal is to help you teach your brain and body that it is safe and okay to set boundaries, make mistakes, and prioritize yourself. I don’t just want you to know it; I want you to feel it. I recognize that you are coming to therapy to feel better, so I like to “get to work.” My approach focuses first on creating safety and stability before diving into the deeper work. I will meet you where you are and go at your pace while encouraging you to change old patterns and try new skills. While I consider myself an experienced and skilled therapist, I also show up to therapy as an imperfect human who doesn’t have it all figured out either (which means a lot of laughter along the way). If this resonates with you, let’s chat! I would love to work with you!