Areas of Focus

  • Adult adoptees and former foster children

  • Adolescents

  • Anxiety

  • Body Image

  • Depression

  • Self Judgment/Lack of self compassion

  • Women and midlife transitions

  • Trauma

  • Life Transitions

  • Grief and Loss

  • Women’s Empowerment

  • Gay and Lesbian Families

  • LGBTQ

  • Psychospiritual Exploration

Who I Work With

Adults

"The irony is that we attempt to disown our difficult stories, to appear more whole or more acceptable, but our wholeness - even our wholeheartedness - actually depends on the integration of all of our experiences, including the falls." - Brene Brown

The natural result of awareness is change. Once we become aware of ineffective behavioral patterns we can then begin to trust ourselves in our ability to make needed changes.

Some of our negative self talk, thoughts, and emotions are coming from parts of ourselves that have yet to be acknowledged, heard, loved and returned home. As a somatic therapist I believe in our bodymind’s inherent energy which moves toward healing and well being. I am a holistic minded therapist who values the healing power of the mind, body and spirit. By learning about your own unique resources, gifts and strengths you can use them to transform challenging and difficult experiences. Knowing what grounds you, knowing your passions and recovering your true self allows for new levels of clarity, connection and compassion in your life.

Adolescents

“Treat people as if they are what they ought to be and you help them become what they are capable of being” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

When we think or talk about the stage of adolescence perhaps we think of kids who are rude and impulsive. This can be a precarious time to say the least. Drawing upon Dan Seigel’s work on the teenage brain I bring a host of understanding to what is going on physiologically with teens. I combine this science with my own open hearted compassion while walking with and guiding these amazing young people on this part of their life’s journey. I view this time in life as full of potential, creativity, innovation and social excitement. I have a deep respect for their individual process of coming to be.

The metaphor of The Elephant and the Rider helps understand the developing adolescent brain.

The rider represents the brain’s prefrontal cortex where executive functioning takes place. This part of the brain is under going major construction in teens and young adults and is not fully developed. Executive functioning includes the ability to pay attention, organize and plan, initiate tasks and stay focused, regulate emotions and be a self starter.

The elephant represents the limbic or simply put, the emotional and social part of the brain. The cortex is responsible for reasoning with the limbic brain but imagine a small and underdeveloped cortex (the rider) trying to steer the 600 pound impulsive and emotionally sensitive elephant. As a parent of a teen one might be familiar with how fast and furiously the emotional part can take over.

In adults the prefrontal cortex is fully formed and we are, for the most part, physiologically capable of seeing the whole big picture: to understand our actions and their conceivable consequences, to manage our emotions appropriately and plan and organize big projects with many moving and changing parts.

This difference is often at the foundation of problems between teens and parents. My work with tweens and teens gives these young people a safe and nonjudgmental place to express themselves through talk therapy and art therapy.