New to Grow
I use art, movement and spirituality in my work (expressive arts and somatic therapy). I grew up as a dancer and worked as a yoga teacher before becoming a therapist. As a kid, I made art to process my own emotions. This all led me to into the field of psychotherapy and, for me, mental health is directly related to creative expression, intuition, body awareness, and spirituality. I'm licensed as a Mental Health Counselor, Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and Creative Arts Therapist and I'm a Board-Certified Dance/Movement Therapist. My sessions are integrative and focus on using the wisdom of the body and creative expression to heal. I have 11 years of clinical experience and have worked in inpatient psychiatric and eating disorder treatment, intensive outpatient addictions treatment, outpatient community treatment, residential trauma treatment for adolescents, crisis triage, drug court, and addictions counseling in a public high school. In addition to expressive and somatic therapies, I also offer Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
In our first session, we'll get to know each-other. You'll be invited to tell me more about your life, what you're going through, and your goals. You'll be welcomed to ask me any questions about myself and my work. We'll discuss the types of interventions and approaches you might prefer, and we'll make a plan for the future. Since therapy is a big deal, I'll support you in discussing what you want, with no pressure to talk about anything you don't want to on the first time meeting.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
My greatest strength overall is that I truly care, see the best in people, and want to support my clients in achieving their most meaningful goals. Beyond that, I have a unique depth and breadth of integrative training and experience. I have worked in a wide range of settings with a wide range of populations: I've worked with people in the high-end wellness resort of Canyon Ranch as well as with people in the local jail. I like people and have compassion for them, no matter their particular identity or walk of life. My thorough experience in body-based modalities means I have a wealth of knowledge I integrate into my sessions, making therapy interesting and effective. My range of clinical licensure and experience means I'm well-versed to work with people dealing with a wide variety of issues. I am trained and certified in Dharma Yoga (500 Hours), Usui Reiki Ryoho, Divine Sleep Yoga Nidra, Heartmath, SomaSoul Somatic Therapy, and the expressive movement modalities of Shake Your Soul and Let Your Yoga Dance. I'm a Board-Certified Dance/Movement Therapist and Ordained Interfaith Minister. I have additional training in Brainspotting and the Discipline of Authentic Movement, and I'm currently a PhD student stying attachment and somatics. In addition, I hold several clinical licenses, which is unusual within the field (Mental Health Counselor, Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and Creative Arts Therapist).
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
My clients feel overwhelmed by their symptoms, can be too hard on themselves, and can struggle in relationships. They want to stop experiencing the same painful things and finally feel better. They want to have more self compassionately, feel safer in their bodies, be healthier, have more meaningful relationships, have new ways of thinking and behaving, and be more confident in who they are. They want to use creativity, mindfulness, and somatics in therapy. My clients are dealing with things like depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, gender dysphoria, trauma, disordered eating, dissociative identity disorder, relationship issues, ADHD and ASD.
Somatic
I use somatic and expressive arts therapies. This experiential approach uses the whole person, not just talking about feelings. It uses the body to change patterns and heal things that exist even beyond conscious and verbal memory. In addition, these ways of working can also be mindfulness practices and stress relievers in themselves. I also offer ketamine therapy.
Polyvagal Therapy
This informs how I understand our therapeutic relationship and the way your nervous system is responding. We use polyvagal theory to create a greater sense of safety in the nervous system. It's also very helpful for understanding difficult and overwhelming emotional responses, as well as for creating more fulfilling relationships. My training in this approach is from SomaSoul® Somatic Therapy.
Gender-affirming therapy
I support clients who are transgender and who are undergoing gender transition.
Mind-body approach
My work is fully mind-body. I have training in yoga, reiki, Divine Sleep Yoga Nidra, Shake Your Soul, Let Your Yoga Dance, Authentic Movement, Hypnosis, SomaSoul Somatic Therapy and I am a Board-Certified Dance/Movement Therapist. I believe the mind-body connection is essential for healing.
Psychodynamic
In psychodynamic therapy we seek to understand how past experience shape current behaviors. This is often liberating as clients realize they aren't just born with the issue at hand, but that it came from something along the way.