rachel megdal

Theoretical Orientation

I tend to work with adults navigating anxiety, trauma, ADHD, relationship patterns, identity questions, or just feeling stuck in ways that are hard to explain. My work is grounded in EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), along with somatic and attachment-based approaches. In practice, that means we’re not just focusing on thoughts, we’re also paying attention to your nervous system, your relationships, and the parts of you that developed to help you cope, even if they’re now creating distress.

I tend to think in terms of parts, patterns, and protection. The anxiety, overthinking, perfectionism, or shutdown you’re experiencing isn’t random and it’s not because something is wrong with you. These are adaptive responses that made sense at one point. Instead of trying to get rid of them as quickly as possible, we get curious about what they’re doing for you and work toward building more flexibility and choice in how you respond.

I don’t believe in forcing a specific method or pace. We move at a speed that feels safe enough, and I use different approaches as tools,not something you have to fit into. Often, we start by making sense of your nervous system and trauma responses so things feel less confusing and less like personal failure. At the same time, I care about helping you create real, meaningful change. Therapy with me isn’t just insight, it’s also about learning how to respond to yourself differently, set boundaries, tolerate discomfort, and take steps toward what actually matters to you, even when it’s uncomfortable or unclear.