Specialties
Getting to the ROOT of your Anxiety and Depression in your Body
If you struggle with anxiety you are probably very aware of the shallow breathing, nonstop thinking, and your inability to ever relax. Or maybe you’re struggling with depression, feeling slowed down, and everything feels hard to do. I will help you move from the painful awareness of what’s in your head to understanding of what is causing these symptoms. Many other therapists focus on top-down approaches, dealing mostly with your thoughts and talking. I approach healing from your body-up, getting to the root of your struggles. Our bodies hold so much wisdom! Most people who come into my office are feeling a lot in their bodies (i.e., chronic pain, numbness, stomach pain, tight muscles, fidgety) but have disconnected these sensations from their emotions and traumatic memories. I will help you go from feeling anxious or heavy in your body to feeling safe and a sense of lightness. Some approaches I use to help people experience healing in their body include:
Mindfulness meditation-helping people slow down their minds and have more flexible and expansive thoughts
Somatic/ Body based approaches-helping people recognize body sensations such as a tightness in their chest and connecting these to memories and negative core beliefs that create unwanted negative habits
Healing Trauma through the Ancient Practices of Nature & Walking
Do you ever feel stuck in your head: aware of negative thoughts and traumatic memories but unsure of how to move past them? Do you want to try something different and new because what you have tried isn’t working anymore? Walking can help your brain get into a restful, meditative state that helps you move from worried thinking to calm and flexible mindsets. I find that merging talk therapy approaches that help people learn to change their thoughts and feel more positive emotions while in nature and walking leads to faster change than if done sitting on a couch. When I am doing walking & talking therapy clients often say things like “I am finally seeing things clearly now. I feel hope and self trust again.” I can also do walking and talking therapy with you through telehealth! I have clients who only see me remotely and we talk on the phone/video chat while walking on our own trails.
Being in nature helps most people feel a sense of calm and safety. I help folks process trauma and difficult emotions while connecting to the grounding sounds of birds, the soft breeze on their skin, and the smell of sweet wildflowers. Walking is a powerful tool for moving stuck emotions in your body. It also serves the same function that EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) does by stimulating both sides of your brain, calming the fear center of your brain which helps you to feel more calm and safe so talking about traumatic memories or difficult emotions is not overwhelming.
If you’re interested in doing therapy outside, I can tailor it for your needs. Some examples of ways we can do therapy outside include:
Walking on a shady, paved trail
Sitting on camping chairs under a big tree
Hiking beside a babbling brook
Faith Crisis and Religious Trauma, Single Parenting, Divorce, Grief
Many people who are going through a faith crisis/expansion or have made the difficult decision to transition away from their religion carry excessive guilt or perfectionism, sexual shame and doubt their ability to make decisions. I help people in healing from religious trauma in deconstructing their old beliefs and helping them find their unique meaning and purpose now. I won’t project my experience onto you; rather I will create a neutral and safe space to help you reclaim your inner authority.
I also help people going through other major life transitions such as divorce, single parenting, and death of a loved one. All of these major changes and journeys can be really lonely and heavy. I have been through a few of my own and have lots of compassion and expertise to help you move forward! There are often feelings of anxiety, grief, loss of identity and direction. I create a safe and non-judgemental space where people can be messy, raw and feel supported during an uncertain time. I help people work through these emotions and traumatic or difficult experiences through methods such as EMDR, IFS (Internal Family Systems), expressive arts, and connecting to your true Self.