The work
How it looks
We will build a relationship based on trust, safety, honesty and mutual respect. From here, we will work on your goals for therapy together and track your progress towards those goals. I will provide a vast somatic toolkit to help weave in an element of presence and body-awareness in the moment to moment of talk therapy. I've found that we MUST recognize and support what’s happening in the body in relation to our “story” if we are to create lasting change in our lives. We will explore the underlying root of the issue you wish to address so that you can dissolve the issue and prevent future repeats. Throughout the challenging parts of therapy, you will become more connected to your internal strengths and external supports, as I believe we must work in both the darkness and the light.
Why it works
Safety and consistency are paramount in any relationship. This gives us a sense of security and predictability so that we can drop into the deeper stuff together. But safety and comfort are two different things. I aim to create a space that is both safe and uncomfortable at times, staying in that sweet spot where evolution occurs. I’m not a therapist who is super quiet, nor am I a therapist who just offers constant validation and positive regard. I want you to feel seen and heard, but I will also tell it like I see it and encourage you to step out of your comfort zone if that is what you need.
About me
I struggled with anxiety for years. Debilitating, socially avoidant anxiety. My healing began when I started doing slow, nourishing yoga. I felt my nervous system start to rewire, no longer constantly navigating a fight/flight response. And then began my journey with somatic psychotherapy, a process that heals both the physical and mental parts of our being. I developed a sense of true safety in my body with the wise guidance of a somatic therapist and noticed how much this calmed my fearful thought pattern. This was new and amazing. I could have never imagined being where I am today when I look back at that anxious and fragile girl from years ago. Healing is possible, and I want to help others experience what I did.
I hold an MA in Counseling Psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies, with a specialty in Somatic Psychotherapy. I’m a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT #123363) and have been in private practice since 2017. I have also worked in school settings and residential treatment centers for teens and young adults. I use a trauma-informed approach and am trained in Brainspotting, a technique similar to EMDR that can have profound results.