My Approach to Helping
Holistic Psychotherapy for the Body, Mind, and Spirit! ...because sometimes words just aren't enough.
"At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want." -Lao Tzu
Reaching out for help isn't easy. My Job is to help you feel safe, heard, and accepted.
In my practice, I combine mindfulness, body-centered psychotherapy, neuroscience, along with good old compassion and humor to form a powerful therapy that is transformative and holistic.
You have felt shame, been stuck, dissatisfied, or alone long enough! You can heal. You just need a little help.
More Info About My Practice
What is Somatic Psychology? Somatic Psychology (body mind psychotherapy, body-oriented psychotherapy, etc.) is a holistic form of therapy that respects and utilizes the powerful connection between body, mind and spirit. How we are in this world, how we relate to ourselves and others, is not just purely about the mind or our thoughts, but is also deeply rooted in our bodies and our spirits. Somatic Psychology has a long and rich history and is primarily derived from the theories and practices of Wilhelm Reich, a psychoanalyst and student of Sigmund Freud. Since that time, it has been influenced by existential, humanistic and gestalt psychology, dance, movement and art therapy, family and systems theory, biology, neurology, and Far Eastern philosophy and spirituality. Individuals seek this form of treatment for similar reasons they might look to more traditional talk therapy, to address stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and sexuality issues, grief and loss, addictions, trauma including abuse recovery, as well as more purely medical reasons including pain, headaches, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Somatic Psychotherapy includes many different techniques that can be utilized depending on the specific needs of each client. Such interventions can include developing mindfulness and awareness of ones physical presence using relaxation and meditative techniques; movement in order to promote a deeper physical awareness and to expand ones capacity to feel and express emotions; breathing techniques to increase awareness of and improve functioning of the breath.
My Role as a Therapist
My role as a therapist is to support my patients on their own healing journeys. You know more about your past, your suffering, and what you want or need to change than I do. I am expert in how to get there. My job is to help you become the person you were born to be.
On the Fence About Going to Therapy?
My advice is to test the waters. I often suggest to prospective clients to find at least three potential therapists that seem like a good fit. Then schedule initial consultations with them. Get a taste of how they are, what they are like. Therapy can be hard, and it is most important that you feel comfortable and safe with your therapist. If you don't, move on.
Importance of the Client-Therapist Alliance
Extensive research on the outcome of psychotherapy points to the importance of the therapeutic relationship. The strength of this relationship is more important than the therapist's training or orientation. Because of this, a skilled therapist will make you feel comfortable, safe, and heard. They won't give advice all the time but will spend most of the time listening to you, making you feel understood. A good therapist builds trust and safety. They really care about their clients.
Clinicians who offer sliding scale payment structures may offer lower or reduced fees based on an individual's ability to pay. Please contact this clinician for more details regarding their fees or sliding scale policy.
