Individual Psychotherapy for Dancers & Performers
Performing can be deeply rewarding—and incredibly demanding. Having worked as a professional dancer with the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers, I understand many of the unique pressures performers experience, including perfectionism, performance anxiety, self-doubt, injury, and the challenge of maintaining a sense of self beyond achievement and the audience applause. Therapy offers a space to slow down, understand what's happening beneath the surface, and develop a more compassionate and sustainable relationship with yourself and your art.
You May Be Struggling With...
Imposter syndrome
Perfectionism
Self-criticism
Performance anxiety
Burnout and overwhelm
Fear of mistakes or rejection
Comparison to others
Difficulty trusting yourself
Loss of confidence after setbacks or injury
Feeling like your worth and value depends on your performance
It’s important to understand that these experiences are common within performance environments and don't mean anything is wrong with you.
Widening Your Window of Tolerance
The demands of performing can leave your nervous system stuck in cycles of anxiety, overthinking, self-pressure, or exhaustion. Together, we'll work to expand your window of tolerance—the range in which you can stay present, grounded, and connected even under stress.
As your capacity grows, you may find it easier to:
Manage performance pressure
Recover from mistakes and setbacks
Respond to self-critical thoughts differently
Feel more confident and flexible
Stay connected to your creativity and values
My Approach
I offer a collaborative, compassionate, and trauma-informed approach to therapy. As a former professional dancer with the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers, I understand firsthand many of the unique pressures performers face—the pursuit of excellence, the fear of making mistakes, the impact of constant evaluation, the challenges of injury and recovery, and the tendency to tie self-worth to achievement.
My experience as both a dancer and therapist allows me to appreciate the dedication, discipline, and vulnerability that performance requires. Together, we can explore patterns of perfectionism, imposter syndrome, self-criticism, anxiety, and burnout while building greater emotional resilience and a more compassionate relationship with yourself.
My goal is to help you widen your window of tolerance, strengthen self-trust, and develop the flexibility to navigate challenges both on and off the stage.
