Alexa Golding
M.A., LMFT 130043
Why I became a therapist
As a child, I was deeply curious about how adults engaged in romantic relationships. I paid close attention to the dynamics between personalities and how those interactions influenced the emotional climate of the family. Over time, with greater self-awareness, I came to understand how certain patterns I observed may have shaped my own sense of self-worth, especially when those interactions involved tension or conflict. As a result, I often struggled with feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt, finding it difficult to trust my own judgement without seeking validation from others. I became hesitant to express my true feelings or speak up when my opinions differed, frequently silencing myself to meet others’ expectations. Over time, this made it challenging for me to recognize and advocate for my own needs in relationships.
These experiences allow me to deeply understand how challenges like this can hinder your ability to form meaningful, intimate connections, have the confidence to go after what you want, and feel secure in the face of uncertainty. Through my own therapy, I’ve learned how to identify and re-frame limiting beliefs, which has helped me have healthier patterns in my relationships with myself and others. This personal growth has inspired me to pursue a career in the mental health field, with a focus on how codependency, anxiety and trauma impact relationships. I support individuals and couples in setting boundaries, honoring their needs and emotions, and building the kind of relationships they desire.
What it’s like to work with me
My clients describe me as warm, compassionate, and non-judgmental. I’m passionate about helping you feel empowered to set healthy boundaries and limits in your relationships. Using evidence-based approaches, we’ll work together to find strategies that help you navigate anxiety and stress in your relationships and regain a sense of control when life feels overwhelming. I believe the therapeutic relationship itself can be incredibly healing. Sometimes, what you need most is someone who truly listens, offers empathy, compassion, and understanding, rather than quick solutions. We’ll move at a pace that feels right for you. There is no pressure to dive into anything before you’re ready. Instead, we’ll focus on building trust and creating a safe, supportive space where you can ease into the process and begin to feel more at home within yourself.
My Personal Beliefs
I believe that as children we may witness or experience unhealthy dynamics within our families that often go unexamined until they begin to affect our adult relationships and professional lives. Many of the beliefs we carry were formed in response to those early experiences, and while they may have once served to protect us, they can later stand in the way of growth. Healing often requires unlearning what no longer serves us, so we can build healthier connections and a more secure sense of self. While keeping our guard up in relationships can feel protective, it can also prevent us from accessing the very things we need to truly heal: intimacy and meaningful connection with both ourselves and others.
Clinical and Educational Background
I completed my Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. I have clinical experience working with adults and couples in private practice, as well as with children and adolescents in community mental health settings. My background also includes providing therapy in counseling centers and academic environments, giving me a broad perspective on the unique challenges individuals face across different stages of life and contexts.
Areas of expertise
Modalities
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that helps you understand how your thoughts and experiences affect the way you feel and act. If you’ve been through something painful in the past, it can make you feel anxious or unsure in your relationships. CBT can help you notice those patterns, work through them, and find new ways to think and respond, so you can feel more confident, connected, and secure with the people in your life.
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Psychodynamic therapy helps you explore how your past experiences, especially early relationships, may be shaping how you feel, think, and relate to others today. Sometimes, we’re not fully aware of the deeper reasons behind our anxiety, relationship patterns, or emotional triggers. This type of therapy gives you space to understand yourself on a deeper level, through generating insight, uncovering the roots of certain behaviors, and creating lasting change in how you connect with yourself and others.
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Attachment theory helps us understand how our early relationships (i.e. caregivers) shape the way we connect with others later in life. These early experiences influence our attachment style, which affects how we relate in close relationships.
There are several common attachment styles:
Anxious: You may worry about being abandoned, seek constant reassurance, or feel insecure in relationships.
Avoidant: You might feel uncomfortable with closeness, prefer independence, or find it hard to rely on others.
Disorganized: You may feel a push-pull in relationships, wanting connection but also fearing it. This style is often linked to early experiences of trauma, unpredictability, or emotional confusion.
Secure: You generally feel safe, valued, and comfortable with closeness and independence in relationships.
While none of these styles fully define anyone, having an understanding of attachment styles can be a powerful step toward breaking old patterns, easing relationship anxiety, and creating more secure, fulfilling connections with others and with yourself.
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Trauma-informed therapy is an approach that recognizes the lasting impact of difficult or overwhelming experiences, whether from childhood, relationships, loss, or other life events. It’s grounded in safety, trust, and compassion, and it understands that trauma can affect how we think, feel, and relate to others.
Rather than asking “What’s wrong with you?”, trauma-informed therapy asks, “What happened to you?” It honors your story without judgment and moves at a pace that feels safe for you. This approach helps you build awareness, restore a sense of control, and develop tools to heal emotionally, physically, and relationally, so you can feel more grounded and connected in your life.