Holistic Therapy
Currently Serving all of California via Telehealth
My Approach & About Me
Holistic Therapy Approach
Whatever you are feeling and experiencing, I believe you.
Your feelings make sense. You make sense.
Let's explore your experiences together, to help you feel better.
I work holistically (honoring mind, body, heart, and spirit) to collaboratively explore your experiences so that we can find the root cause of the symptoms, while also helping with coping tools to help in the meantime. As we come to understand why the symptoms make sense for being there, space unfolds for healing and finding sustainable relief.
I approach our work together with awareness of how shock trauma, relational trauma, and systemic trauma significantly affect an individual’s experience of safety in the world. I know that therapy can feel vulnerable and I honor your courage in taking this step. Our therapy together will move at a pace that is comfortable for you.
I use a combination of NARM (the NueroAffective Relational Model), and IFS (Internal Family Systems). I am currently in the Level 3 training for NARM, which is a gentle approach to heal relational/developmental trauma.
Each session will begin with you sharing what you are most wanting to experience (your heart's desire). Sometimes this is easily known, and sometimes it takes time to explore - either way is absolutely okay. Together, we will compassionately explore what is getting in the way of what you are most wanting to experience (your heart's desire). I will be there to hold space for feelings that you have been holding, share with you tools to help you ease the distress, help you discover reasonable explanations for why your symptoms make sense, and to connect to your strengths, resources, and the gift of who you are.
About Me
My own past suffering and healing became my inspiration to become a therapist.
But my path wasn’t direct. In the journey towards healing what I now understand to be Complex Trauma, I encountered therapists who had not been trained in trauma-informed modalities. The best of them were unhelpful, and the worst of them left more scars. It wasn’t until I started working with a Complex Trauma Informed therapist that my true healing began. It is because of this that I am dedicated to providing psychologically safe trauma-informed psychotherapy.
As I studied the intricacies of Complex Trauma, I learned the importance of healing both the wounding to the self identity (shame and self-criticism) and integrating that with healing in the body and nervous system. Human beings are complex and we can’t boil us down to one aspect - our thoughts and emotions affect our bodies and our bodies affect our thoughts and emotions -- as I leaned into healing all the parts is when my liberation from the emotional distress began to take place.
Throughout my journey, I encountered many “self-help” books and healers who spoke of “self-healing.” Although my mind understood the information I was consuming, I wasn’t able to implement it in a way that helped me experience long-term relief and healing from my suffering. While books are a wonderful tool to assist in growth and healing, I have found it misleading that we can do this on our own. As I began working with a therapist and continuing my studies, I learned the importance of connection and how the safety of a relationship (in this case the therapeutic relationship) can deeply support the desired changes.
My path to healing allowed me to feel more comfortable with all of my feelings, slowly increased my tolerance for stress, and expanded my capacity for connection -- allowing for my connection with others to deepen. My healing journey has spanned over years of time, with ample self-reflection, self-care, and guidance. And my journey is continuous, as I am passionately curious and continue to deepen my understanding of the human experience, suffering, and healing.
I am grateful for my healing and recovery, and am honored to support others in their healing. Witnessing the growth and transformation of others through the therapeutic process is a profound privilege that I do not take for granted.
I would be honored to work with you.
Education
I have a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies, with an emphasis in Integral Counseling Psychology.
Trainings & Certifications
The NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) Level 1 Training
The NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) Level 2 Training
The NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) Level 3 Training (Ongoing
Working With Energetic Boundaries Level 1 Certification
Working With Survivors of Sexual Trauma Training
Working With Clients with HIV/AIDS Training
The Escaltation Continuum Training
Autism Spectrum Disorder Training with Lori Crowley
Working With Anger Training
Dissociation Treatment Training
Working With Grief and Loss Training
Anti-Racism Training with Nancy Kahn
All About Sex for Women Workshop
Gender Identity Training with Mahrs Schoppman
Child Play Therapy Training
Winnicott Goes Viral Training with Orit Weksler
Helping Children with Dysregulation Training
Healing The Fear of Being Seen Training
Nurturing our Well-Being (NOW) & Support for Living with the Risk of COVID-19 Training
Let's begin your healing journey to experience joy, inner-stability and connection.
To see if I am a good therapeutic fit for you, please click the button below to schedule a free 30-minute consultation. I look forward to connecting with you!