My Therapeutic Style:

Curiosity, compassion and openness are the core values I bring to every therapy session.

I believe that we all have the intuition and innate skills to create lives full of joy, connection and purpose; sometimes we just need some support in getting there.

Coming from a social work background, I hold a holistic perspective that does not separate the person from their environment. Societal and familial conditioning have layered habits and beliefs on top of our true nature.

I help my clients gain insight into which of these habits and beliefs are helpful and which are no longer serving them, and then we work together to translate those insights into tangible change in their lives.

Somatic/Body-Oriented Therapy:

In the field of somatic therapy, it is believed that our mind, body, spirit and emotions are all interrelated and connected to each other. Using somatic tools, I help my clients develop a more attuned and compassionate relationship with their physical body. This allows them to connect what is happening in their body to their emotions, thoughts and behaviors, resulting in more holistic healing than talk therapy alone can offer.

Hakomi and Mindfulness:

I draw strongly from the Hakomi method, an experiential therapeutic process that uses mindfulness (a.k.a. present moment awareness), body sensations, gestures and experiments to reveal limiting patterns and beliefs, usually originating in childhood. What this looks like varies session to session, but it often results in a slowing down of thoughts and a greater trust in the client’s own inner knowing. If this all sounds a little strange, don’t worry, we always go step by step at your pace.

You can read more about Hakomi here- https://hakomiinstitute.com/

Trauma:

When given the right conditions and support, it is human nature to bounce back and heal from trauma. My training and experience has taught me how to create a safe environment for traumatic memories to be processed and to apply specific techniques to resolve symptoms of trauma.

Renowned trauma therapists have found that trauma lives in the body. In a healing relationship and through somatic work, it is possible to resolve negative symptoms of trauma and emerge with a stronger and more resilient sense of self.

EcoPsychology:

Eco-psychology is a growing movement that aims to help people understand and harmonize their relationship with the Earth. The premise is that humans, the Earth and all living beings are connected in an interdependent web. Studies have shown that nature is an effective tool for healing; it lowers the incidence of depression and anxiety, helps us slow down and take a larger perspective of our lives, and brings back a sense of childlike awe and curiosity about the world.

During our sessions together, I may bring in objects from nature or visualizations. I also do therapy sessions outside to support my clients in connecting with the natural environment.

Another way that I bring eco-psychology into our sessions is through shamanic, earth-based practices. We may create ritual and ceremony together to help you gain greater access to your inner wisdom. These rituals can be effective for resolving symptoms of trauma, finding more inner peace and trust, and enhancing a deeper connection to yourself, your community and the natural world. Some modalities that I use are breath work, sound, movement, guided visualizations and others.

Identity:

Identity and power issues impact us all, in subtle and obvious ways. Race, culture, gender, sexuality and other markers of identity are all important parts of the tapestry of our life experience.

It is unhelpful to the healing and growth process when we ignore or shy away from these aspects of ourselves. I welcome these topics in all their complexity in our sessions together.