Therapist Profile

My Approach to Helping

My approach to psychotherapy is based in three main principles: 1) We each carry enough internal resources to access our own healing, 2) our wounds are both the source of our suffering and of our liberation, and 3) healing happens in relationship.As animals we are instinctively wired to move away from pain. Given this simple fact, it makes sense that so many of us try to avoid suffering, using our habits, addictions and defenses. My approach to therapy is an invitation to carefully turn toward the sources of pain--- not alone, but with a guide, with resources and with consciousness.Using awareness of physical sensations, images, healing touch, expressive art and movement, I assist people in finding resources within their own experience. This aspect of therapy is like a treasure hunt, helping people remember and discover parts of themselves that are already free, vital and strong. Some examples of resources are feeling the presence of your own hand over your heart while you breathe, resting in an imagined safe place, or feeling satisfaction and power in the artwork you create.The process of finding and creating resources coincides with the building of a therapeutic relationship. Because most of our wounding occurs in relationship, I find that it is essential to include the relationship between myself and the people I work with as a primary element of therapy. This means that I directly address issues as they arise (such as trust, boundaries, connection, disconnection), remain an active participant in the therapy, and truly want to hear from you about how it feels to be in therapy with me.From a cause and effect perspective, as the external relationship to the therapist and the internal relationship to self strengthen and grow, the nervous system to adapts, allowing people to create a new understanding and relationship to their pain. This "rewiring" of the brain happens over time, and when successful, ultimately allows clients to slow down their reactivity, talk themselves through hard times, make choices about their behavior, and shorten their experiences of struggle.While addressing issues from the perspective of the nervous system, the emotional body, the physical body, and mental activity, I also include the spiritual dimension of life in my work, inclusive of all faiths. If someone is interested, I invite people's relationship to the divine--- good, bad or indifferent--- into the therapeutic conversation.I am committed to helping potential clients find the right therapist to fit their specific needs and personality. I offer a free 20 minute phone interview so that you can ask me questions, tell me a little about yourself and why you are searching for a therapist at this time in your life. Together we can decide to either schedule an appointment or find an appropriate referral.Thank you for your interest in my work,Jessica