The greatest privilege of a human life is to become a midwife to the awakening of the Soul in another person.
-Plato
My Approach
PATTERN
In my work, I focus on identifying and understanding patterns that show up in different ways, like sensations, images, movements, emotions, stories, or energy.
We explore these patterns because they often reflect how the psyche and body naturally try to organize and regulate themselves, even when they seem uncomfortable or challenging.
Carl Jung introduced the concept of archetypes—universal symbols that exist deep in the unconscious mind of all people. These archetypal patterns shape our experiences, sometimes consciously and sometimes unconsciously, and carry power and meaning.
We aim to make these patterns more conscious so you have more access to a felt sense of meaningful experience in life.
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STRUCTURE
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The patterns we explore represent how the mind organizes and regulates itself. Structures, on the other hand, are the physical or visible signs of those patterns.
Examples of structures include things like physical symptoms, body tics, OCD impulses, emotional flooding, abusive relationships, nightmares, and more.
By looking at these structures, we can understand the deeper patterns affecting your daily life. Following these signs helps us uncover the meaning behind these patterns.
By using the structures as doorways we are able to see into the deeper patterns that influence our physical everyday life. By following the structural manifestations in your life, we can trace the deep meaning inherent in these patterns.
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PROCESS
Much of the work we will do involves learning to trust the process of weaving between pattern and structure. Since process is the link between pattern and structure, we want to add consciousness to the patterns and structures that often run unconsciously.
If trauma has been prevalent throughout your life, the patterns and structures around that trauma can create negative feedback loops that keep you distanced from the true essence of who you are and who you are meant to be in this world.
In trauma, the highest value is survival and by consciously weaving between pattern and structure, we can creatively develop a deeper relationship to those survival patterns; then, we see the process begins to influence the creation of new patterns and eventually new structures that are a deeper reflection of the true essence of who you truly are.
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Areas of Focus
Somatic Experiencing
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Somatic Experiencing (SE™) is a body-oriented therapeutic model applied in multiple professions and professional settings—psychotherapy, medicine, coaching, teaching, and physical therapy—for healing trauma and other stress disorders.
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The Somatic Experiencing approach facilitates the completion of self-protective motor responses and the release of thwarted survival energy bound in the body, thus addressing the root cause of trauma symptoms. This is approached by gently guiding clients to develop increasing tolerance for difficult bodily sensations and suppressed emotions, thereby improving the capacity for self regulation.
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The Somatic Experiencing method works to release this stored energy and turn off this threat alarm that causes severe dysregulation and dissociation.
SE helps people understand this body response to trauma and work through a “body first” bottom up approach to healing.
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The SE approach releases traumatic shock, which is key to transforming PTSD and the wounds of emotional and early developmental attachment trauma.
It offers a framework to assess where a person is “stuck” in the fight, flight or freeze responses and provides clinical tools to resolve these fixated physiological states.
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It is based on a multidisciplinary intersection of physiology, psychology, ethology, biology, neuroscience, indigenous healing practices, and medical biophysics and has been clinically applied for more than four decades.
Dream Tending
Dreams are a natural part of being human. When we sleep, the psyche creates a theater where the unconscious can tell us its stories. Even if we forget a few details, each dream image holds a potent message about our emotions and inner life.
In somatic dream tending, we explore the images in our dreams to understand what they may be telling us.
These images help us see the different parts of ourselves and how they interact, offering new ways to connect with ourselves and the world. Following Jung's teachings, we view dream symbols as guides from the unconscious, bridging the night world with our day world to bridge a more coherent sense of self.
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Why do we focus so intensely on our problems?
What draws us to them?
Why are they so attractive?
They have the magnet power of love: somehow we desire our problems; we are in love with them much as we want to get rid of them . . .
Problems sustain us -- maybe that's why they don't go away.
What would a life be without them?
Completely tranquilized and loveless . . .
There is a secret love hiding in each problem.
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-James Hillman
Depression
Reaching out for help can be hard, especially when dealing with the heavy weight of depression.
When sadness feels endless, having someone experienced by your side can make a real difference.
We’ll start by exploring how depression shows up in your body and look at ways that past experiences may be affecting how you feel now. I don't see depression as 'something wrong' per se; I see depression as a way that the soul coagulates life force energy and accumulates it it particular psychosomatic vortices.
Together, we’ll work to understand these vortices and the patterns that shape them to unwind the blockages so that you may uncover a renewed sense of self and experience a return of vital life force energy and connection to life.
Anxiety
In today’s fast-paced world, anxiety is a common experience. When fears and worries grow strong, they can feel overwhelming or even paralyzing.
This is an opportunity to look within and understand how anxious energy moves through your body and mind. Anxiety affects both your thoughts and your body. Using Somatic Experiencing, we’ll work on becoming more aware of your body’s sensations, which can help reduce anxiety’s hold.
Together, we’ll explore the emotional roots of these feelings.
Anxiety often has deep roots, sometimes in fears or in chasing unreachable standards, like perfection.
Our work will focus on understanding the signals of your anxiety and uncovering the helpful messages it might hold.
Grief and Loss
Grief is more than just sadness; it can bring a mixture of emotions like anger, fear, regret, and guilt that make it even harder to understand what you’re feeling.
Loss can take many forms: the passing of a loved one, chronic illness, disability, divorce, or other tough changes in life. These experiences bring heavy feelings that need time to process.
In a world that often pressures us to “move on” quickly, it is easy to feel rushed through our grief.
Here, you’ll find a space to slow down and let your grief unfold naturally, without pressure.
Each feeling is given space, making the weight of grief easier to carry. Together, we’ll walk through these emotions, helping you find healing by fully embracing your grief at your own pace.
Work and Career
Work can be both fulfilling and exhausting. Finding work that aligns with your true calling is important for overall well-being, like planting seeds that nourish your inner life.
Sometimes, doubts about your work can arise. These doubts can actually help us understand your purpose more fully if we can move into the doubt more fully. However, doubt can also make you feel “out of tune” with your current job.
Together, we’ll work on aligning who you are with what you do. This is more than just choosing a career—it’s about connecting with your true self to find a purpose that feels right for you. This connection can transform your relationship with work, bringing new energy and meaning into your life.
Transitions
Life’s transitions bring with them unique challenges, marking times of change that feel like new chapters in our ever unfolding personal story. During these times, familiar roles—like parenting—may shift.
These moments of shift may often bring uncertainty and can stir up feelings of anxiety and sadness. But within this discomfort lies the potential for growth and search for new meaning.
Together, we’ll explore these life changes, looking closely at your choices and the values behind them. This is more than reviewing the past; it’s about uncovering what truly matters to you.
In this space, we’ll work to redefine your sense of self, guided by the values that emerge. This process can lead to a renewed sense of identity, connected to a larger understanding of who you are.
Eating/Exercise Disorders
With eating disorders, the relationship with food often goes beyond physical needs and touches deep emotional layers. The struggle with food and body image can reflect an inner conflict between conscious thoughts and unmet emotional needs.
This inner conflict may bring up anxiety and a felt sense of disconnect from your emotions.
Our work together will be a journey of reconnection. We’ll start by listening closely to your body and emotions, learning to understand the messages they carry.
Through this process, parts of yourself that have been hidden can come forward, helping to create a sense of balance. A healthier relationship with food, exercise, and self-care goes beyond just the physical but includes bringing together the body, mind, and emotions back into harmony.
This journey is about moving toward wholeness and self-acceptance.
Relationships
In relationships, many seek help during times of crisis or when they feel stuck in certain patterns. Sometimes, the goal is to strengthen the relationship and deepen the bond.
Each partner brings their own beliefs, struggles, and complexities to the relationship, and the journey involves both individual growth and a stronger connection with the other.
Together, we’ll focus on understanding your own needs, practicing empathetic listening, working through conflicts, and how your body responds to building meaningful bonds. As you work through these areas, the relationship can grow, turning challenges into opportunities for deeper intimacy and connection.
1-1 Sliding Scale
My 1-1 sessions operate on a sliding scale ranging from $125-$175.
I have a few slots for those who can’t afford the low end of the scale, please feel free to inquire.
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Consider paying less on the scale if you:
*are supporting children or have other dependents
*have significant debt
*have medical expenses not covered by insurance
*receive public assistance
*have immigration-related expenses
*are an elder with limited financial support
*are an unpaid community organizer
*are a returning citizen who has been denied work due to incarceration history
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Consider paying more on the scale if you:
*own the home you live in
*have investments, retirement accounts, or inherited money
*travel recreationally
*have access to family money and resources in times of need
*work part time by choice
*have a relatively high degree of earning power due to level of education, even if you are not currently exercising your earning power.
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The scale is intended to be a map, inviting each of us to take inventory of our financial resources and look deeper at our levels of privilege and to exercise autonomy and choice in this investment process.
It is a way to challenge the materialistic society we live in and work towards economic justice on a local level.
While I ask you to take these factors into consideration, please don’t stress about it. Pay what feels right.
Any and all questions of this map can be discussed on our free discovery call before beginning sessions together.