Keri Gnanashanmugam LCSW
My therapeutic outlook
Take a second and ask yourself – is what I’m struggling with in one form or another related to someone else in my life? Am I struggling with my partner, dating life, friendships, family relationships, or work? If the answer is yes, we may be a good fit. I commonly work with individuals and couples on issues related to insecure attachment styles, family of origin dysfunction, codependency, managing conflict, self-containment and emotion regulation, communication, boundaries, self-esteem, trauma responses or unhelpful automatic patterns, power and control.
I offer both individual and couples therapy and specialize in complex trauma and relationships. Together, we will explore all the external factors at play; learn about the parts of you that help or those that seem to get in the way; practice awareness of these parts in the moment; learn to tolerate discomfort and uncertainty; change automatic reactions; and practice showing up for yourself and others in a way that aligns with your values, goals, and priorities.
My style has been described as gentle yet firm; playful yet straight-forward; compassionate yet encouraging. I draw upon internal family systems (IFS), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), eye movement desensitization and
reprocessing (EMDR), Gottman Method Couples Therapy and Relational Life Therapy (RLT). This journey is rarely easy, fast, or linear so we will move in the direction and pace that feels right for you.
My Background
I received my B.S. in Biology and Psychology and M.S. in Microbiology from Sam Houston State University; and a Master of Social Work from the University of Houston. Before moving to the private practice setting, I worked in community mental health and the nonprofit sector. My diverse educational background, clinical experience and training, and previous career as a personal trainer and yoga instructor position me to understand the interconnectedness of biological, psychological, and social determinants of mental health (and health), and the mind-body connection. I am a neuroscience nerd and social justice advocate with a particular affinity for dismantling patriarchy and racism.
When I’m not working, I’m trying to get in quality time with my husband, our infant son, and 7-year-old dog who you might see in session. I enjoy nights of uninterrupted sleep (IYKYK), reading, paint-by-numbers, being outdoors, and a good wine and food pairing.