👋🏼 Hi, I'm Isabel
You're the one who keeps the peace at home, the friend everyone calls in a crisis, the colleague who always says yes to one more project. Ask anyone and they'll tell you how thoughtful you are. Almost no one knows what it costs you.
It's not that you don't know what you want. It's that for some reason, you keep putting your needs second and you just can’t figure out why.
Being the accommodating one feels familiar, even natural, but it isn't helping you thrive, and part of you knows you can't build the life you want from second place. Lately, it's been adding up: resentment you can't say out loud, exhaustion that sleep doesn't fix, and the feeling that your own life is on hold.
This pattern of keeping yourself small usually starts early. Maybe you grew up around people whose needs or moods filled the room, and fitting yourself around them was the safest thing you could do.
It made sense then. It may be what's keeping you stuck now.
And I think I know you.
Partners
I work psychodynamically and relationally, which means we'll explore where these patterns began and what they've been protecting you from.
We'll also pay attention to how they show up between us (like what you're actually feeling in the therapy room itself), not just what you feel outside the room. You might notice yourself saying what you think I want to hear, apologizing for taking up too much time, or downplaying something that really matters to you. Instead of letting those moments slide, I'll gently challenge you to slow down and notice what you're holding back, and what you're afraid will happen if you say it out loud. Therapy becomes a place to practice being fully yourself with another person, and to discover that the relationship can hold it.
Good therapy won't make you stop caring about other people. It will help you stop giving their reactions the final say. You’ll be able to tell your partner you're hurt without rushing to take it back. You’ll be able to make your case at work without second-guessing yourself into silence. And you’ll be able to put your energy into friendships where you get as much as you give.
If this sounds familiar, I'd love to hear from you. Reach out to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
I Specialize In:
Life Transitions
Work Stress + Burnout
Trauma
Anxiety
Communication + Boundaries
Depression
Dating + Relationships
Get to Know Isabel
Ready to take the next step?
Just submit this form and then you’ll be able to schedule a consultation directly with Isabel.
We'll get back to you as soon as we can (usually within 24-48 hours).
or you can book a consult now.
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Meet the Rest of Our Team
Jacob Mergendoller
Senior Therapist & Founder
- High-Performing Perfectionists
- Therapy for Men
- Work Stress + Burnout
Andrew Levey
Therapist
- Anxious Young Professionals
- Teens Under Pressure
- Overextended High-Achievers
Natalie Dupre
Therapist
- Self-Reliant Overachievers
- Emotional Burnout + Exhaustion
- Overgiving + People-Pleasing
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