My Approach to Helping
Do you get irritated and angry quickly? Do you shut down under stress? Do you often feel disconnected from your body, checked out, numb, or frozen? Do you often feel burnt out or overwhelmed? If any of this describes you, you’re not alone, and there is nothing inherently wrong with you. Your body has natural defense mechanisms to help you deal with the effects of stress and trauma, so first of all, congratulations on surviving. Second of all, it is possible to feel better, and I honor your desire to learn new ways of being.
Whether you’ve tried different methods of healing already or this is your first time considering therapy, what I offer is a somatic (body-based) healing modality. Holistic therapy means we address the entire body (physical, emotional, and mental), and we do more than just dredge up old wounds. Rather than just talking about our pain, we learn how to transform it.
We start by understanding your body’s response to stress. Where is trauma stored in your body? We use physical indicators to learn about your nervous system, such as the fight-or-flight response. We learn that even after any immediate danger is gone, your body may still “remember” the stress state and this can cause you to end up feeling stuck or burnt out, especially if you’ve experienced prolonged periods of trauma.
The good news is: it is very much possible to feel better. Though we cannot always change the world around us, we can change our reactions. I teach you actionable tools to increase your resiliency to stress, and learn how to embody a state of greater peace and calm. We go at your pace to gently question and redirect your stress responses to be appropriate to new situations. We focus on exploring and giving language to your sensations and feelings, so that you can safely and gradually increase your sense of well-being.
I’m here for you when you’re ready to transition from surviving to thriving. You’re motivated and ready. You’re excited to change. You deserve to feel good.
Sessions may be conducted online or in-person in Long Beach, Calif.