Tristin McDermott

Finding the right therapist can feel overwhelming especially when you’re already feeling stuck, exhausted, anxious, or unsure of what you need. I believe therapy works best when you feel genuinely understood, not judged or “fixed.” My goal is to create a space where you can be honest about what’s really going on, feel supported through the hard parts, and develop tools that help you feel more grounded and confident in your life.

I work with adults navigating eating disorders, complex trauma, anxiety, depression, chronic illness, relationship and communication difficulties, attachment wounds, and major life transitions. I’ve worked across residential, PHP, IOP, and outpatient settings, giving me experience supporting people through both acute challenges and longer-term healing.

My approach is warm, collaborative, and compassionate, while still being honest and practical. We’ll work together to understand the patterns that may be keeping you stuck not just manage symptoms, but understand why they’re happening and what you want to do differently.

You don’t have to have everything figured out before starting therapy. If you’re ready to better understand yourself, break old patterns, and build a life that feels more like your own, I’d be honored to help.

I believe therapy should feel like a real conversation- not a lecture. My style is warm, direct, collaborative, and affirming. I’ll listen without judgment, ask the questions that help you see things differently, and gently challenge patterns that may be keeping you stuck. I also believe therapy can include humor, honesty, and even moments of lightness (especially when things feel heavy).

You know yourself and your life better than anyone. My role is to bring clinical expertise, curiosity, and perspective while helping you make sense of what you're experiencing and figure out what actually works for you. I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach, so we'll tailor therapy to your needs, personality, goals, and pace.

Depending on what you're working through, I draw from EMDR, CBT, DBT, ACT, IFS, mindfulness-based approaches, and Gottman Method techniques. I may use these approaches to help you process difficult experiences, manage anxiety or depression, improve relationships and communication, change patterns that aren't serving you, or work toward recovery from an eating disorder.

Most importantly, I want therapy to be useful outside of the therapy room. We'll work toward understanding not only why you feel and respond the way you do, but also what you can do differently in your everyday life. My goal is for you to leave therapy feeling more understood, more equipped, and more confident in your ability to handle what comes next.

I believe meaningful change happens when you feel both accepted and challenged. You don't have to be “good at therapy” or have everything figured out before we begin. We can start exactly where you are.

Your first session is about getting to know you- not just what brought you to therapy, but who you are as a person. We'll talk about what's been going on, what you've tried so far, what's helping (and what isn't), and what you'd like to be different. We'll also start thinking together about what you want from therapy and what would make our work feel worthwhile to you.

You don't have to come in with everything figured out, and you definitely don't have to tell your entire life story in one hour. Share what feels comfortable, ask questions, and take your time. My goal is for you to leave that first session feeling like you've been heard and that we've started to make sense of where you are and where you'd like to go.

You can expect me to be curious, engaged, and collaborative. I'll ask questions, offer observations and perspective, and help us identify goals that feel meaningful and realistic. I won't simply sit back and nod, but I also won't tell you how you “should” feel or what you need to do.

Therapy is something we do together. We'll move at a pace that feels manageable while building trust, understanding, and a little humor along the way. Most importantly, I want you to feel like you can show up as yourself, not a polished version of yourself, and that there's room for whatever you bring into the room.