My Approach to Helping

My collaborative approach to the therapeutic process respects that each individual is the authority in her life and the one who knows herself best; I am the fellow traveler with individuals and families as they seek to integrate their holistic well-being on many levels, including physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social, and ethical. Often couples and families are seeking to integrate each person's well-being into a cohesiveness that brings contentment to the two partners and family members. It is a privilege to work with individuals, couples, and families to experience contentment and release from tension.

As we evolve, the precious gift in the physical body seems to become more apparent. The collaboration of the three brains providing us with guidance seems to strengthen over time. The heart, gut, and head form a soulful triumvirate that can help us make empowering choices for our lives if we learn to listen to their messages. Much of my therapeutic work is body oriented, improving listening and communication in the executive team within us, which also translates into effective ways to develop our relationships in the outside world. We use cognitive-emotional processing and mindfulness experiences to this end, with attention to areas of nourishment in nutrition, self-love and friendship, and an understanding and actualization of life purpose.

In this pivotal moment on the planet, besides establishing kind and compassionate relationships with all beings, including ourselves, we must expand our self-exploration to include an experience of the transpersonal, the Divine as we know it, and redirect potentially destructive responses to self, others, and planet to an inclusive, collaborative view of ourselves in relation to creation. If we treat all creation as an essential part of the whole, we secure world peace, clean air and water, diversity, and non-violent solutions to conflict. This approach reduces symptoms of anxiety, depression, hyperactivity, and malaise and establishes harmony in our families.

Evidence-based therapeutic modalities include the Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing and Cognitive Processing Therapy for the resolution of post-traumatic stress, grief, anxiety and depression; basic non-violent communication skills for improving understanding and intimacy; body-oriented psychotherapy; and child leadership and assertiveness counseling.

Retreats for restoration of balance and peace are available 50 minutes north of Santa Fe, at Llama Deara Ranch. The self-determination and life purpose that many of us seek seem to clarify through quiet days of meditation and reflection in nature.

More Info About My Practice

I take many of the common insurances, as noted, including Western Sky, Christus, NM Health Connections, and True Health. I do not take Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, or Medicare.

My main practice is at Llama Deara Ranch, with satellite practices in Santa Fe and El Rito, NM. Please contact me for exact locations of the satellite offices.

My rates are generally $120 per session, with the initial assessment and longer sessions needed for trauma resolution and couples therapy costing more.

Specific Issue(s) I'm Skilled at Helping With

I have decades of personal and professional experience facing abuse of power and intimidation in families, schools, neighborhoods, spiritual and religious organizations, and the workplace. Addressing harassment in our society requires courage and perseverance, and often entails further abuse of power, ostracism, and manipulative behavior on the part of others. We can rise strong in the face of such abuses; I can assist in navigating current systems of justice and the many feelings that arise from speaking up and acting.

Additionally, I specialize in the resolution of trauma related to abuse, violence, military deployments, and illness, surgeries, and hospital visits. The EMDR work I have done with clients committed to the process of trauma resolution has been awe-inspiring and humbling. We can heal from trauma, grief, PTSD, and from many of the somatic challenges related to unresolved trauma. We can learn to manage chronic pain.

Past work with couples has seen many changes in their communication dynamic and their level of contentment. Sometimes a shift in communication modes can cause enormous relief in an intimate relationship. The Imago Intentional Dialog generally brings immediate relief to the tensions in a relationship of any kind, whether intimate, collegial, friendship, or parent-child.

Both personal and professional experience allows me to help clients manage the effects of addictive and codependent behaviors in families and intimate relationships, and change the way we respond to life and the people in our circles. My approach is proactive, with a generous dose of limit setting, love, and compassion for self and other.

Work with children is a great joy for all involved. I have worked in both private and public schools in both California and New Mexico and am committed to the well-being of our children, the reflection of how we educate them.

My Role as a Therapist

I hope to inspire people to restore their sense of empowerment and influence over their lives and responses to circumstances, and to develop their creativity to allow them to change their current path, if desired. As a holistic health therapist, I envision your gaining a strong sense of self care, love, nurturing, and worth. I seek to show both by example and by education the importance of these factors and of integrating well-being on all levels of our being. Essential to our well being at this time, is increased connection with the spirit within so that we are able to see a bigger picture and act accordingly.

Most of all, I hope you will see that the accountability for your life is in your hands, that you are capable of being the captain of your soul and master of your fate, and that the gift of life is precious.