Madison Palmer, PsyD

My therapy style is relational, interpersonal, and consistently characterized by genuineness, intentionality, and just the right amount of humor. I find meaning in collaboratively creating a unique therapeutic space with each person I have the privilege of working with.I primarily work from a Relational Cultural Therapy perspective, while also drawing from relational psychodynamic, existential, and systems approaches. This means I believe relationships are central to well-being-how we relate to ourselves, to others, and to the world around us. I recognize that relationships are shaped by many factors, such as identity, family background, past experiences, access to resources, and the larger systems of power and oppression that may be encountered. Because of this, I take time to understand each person’s unique life context and experiences so I can best support them in our work together. As relationships and their broader contexts are explored in therapy, I also create space to explore emotions, aiming to foster deeper self-understanding and meaningful personal growth.

Patients have often noted that what surprised them and set our work apart is that they felt accepted, that they felt like they could “unmask” and be themselves, and that they could be vulnerable in unexpected ways. The ability to incorporate laughter and fun into therapy has been reported to be an important and defining aspect of our work together for many patients as well. At the end of our work together, many of my patients have reported experiencing symptom reduction and relief. However, they have also expressed changes that go beyond a decrease in symptoms, such as developing a deeper understanding of themselves, and being able to interact in new ways within their relationships and their larger communities. More specifically, they have described an increased ability to advocate for and express their feelings and needs. They’ve noted reconnection or new engagement with meaningful interests and hobbies. They’ve also reported learning ways to cope with stressors that feel more congruent for them, and having an increased ability to stay in the present moment (as opposed to focusing on the past or future).