About & Approach

About Me & My Approach

“The size of your dreams must always exceed your current capacity to achieve them. If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.”
---As Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former Liberian president, told a Harvard graduating class

About Me

Welcome to my practice.

I am a psychotherapist with over 20 years of experience specializing in anxiety, perfectionism, life transitions, and resilience building. As a certified Cognitive Behavioral Therapist, I will collaborate with you using an empathic, compassionate and mindful approach.

I have worked with adult clients including from a variety of professions (such as Moms, journalists, lawyers and other legal professionals, librarians, IT professionals, government employees, medical professionals and more) as well as varied ages, races, ethnicities, sexual identities and cultural backgrounds. I have lived and traveled extensively overseas, at times as part of the expatriate and diplomatic communities. These diverse experiences can help connect us and inform our work together.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at 502.771.1460, 202.368.0330 or underwoodgina@gmail.com.

My Approach

My approach to therapy is to first explore your history, strengths, and challenges in a confidential, nonjudgmental environment. Then, we will work collaboratively to clearly and accurately articulate what you would like to be different in your life. At that point, we will discuss what additional tools and skills may be needed to attain these goals; what may be interfering with making life changes; and what, if any, limits prevent you from fully making the changes you want. After this realistic assessment of your present situation, we will collaborate to help you reach your goals as we better understand your situation.

It is important for you to generally feel comfortable as you share private information and work toward your personal goals (keeping in mind, of

course, that the process of change is often uncomfortable for most of us). A free, 15-minute consultation can help us determine if I am a good match for you as a therapist.

My training and experience as a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist as well as my additional training in the areas of Mindfulness and Self-Compassion will particularly guide our work together. If you have spiritual practices that you value, we may also be able to weave them into our collaboration as well as additional tools that may help you achieve your goals.

I welcome any questions you may have about my practice and this process.