How I help people
I practice experiential, somatic and mindfulness based psychotherapies. This means that in sessions with me, I will encourage you to experience emotion and increase your awareness of your body sensations for the purpose of helping you transform painful internal patterns. The specific modalities I draw from and have advanced training in are Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Lifespan Integration (LI).
I believe that we all contain multitudes and contradictions. Experiencing contradictions isn't pathological, it's how our brain works. Sometimes, we get entrenched in struggle with different parts of ourselves and that can lead to extreme discomfort as we fight with and try to change parts of ourselves. I will encourage you to work directly with and get to know all your parts, even the ones you don't like. This way of working is very gentle and requires mindfulness and willingness to explore darker parts of you that you might have tried to eliminate. I will not encourage you to get rid of any parts of yourself, rather I will help you heal parts of yourself that are holding pain and burdens. As you learn to face polarizations with curiosity and compassion, you will gain greater leadership and freedom in your internal system. Although difficult at first, as this is a complete paradigm shift. the process can be absolutely liberating.
I work with people who experience
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Relational difficulties
- Sexual difficulties
- Conflictual relationships
- Emotional intensity/reactivity
- Motivational dips
- Physical discomfort related to emotional/mental distress
- Trauma
- Dating frustrations
- High Sensitivity (HSP)
Training
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Washington - License #LF60727738 and a Certified EFT Couples Therapist. I graduated from Antioch University Seattle with a M.A. in Psychology, specializing in couple and family therapy. My undergraduate degree is in Dance from The University of Memphis. Prior to private practice, I worked in a community mental health clinic treating children, adults, and families.
Professional Experience
Having spent 10 plus years working closely with families as a social worker and as a nanny, I have a depth of understanding of the pressures that modern families currently face. My unique experience gives me expertise in:
- attachment
- child development
- relational dynamics
Throughout all of my professional experiences, I have brought movement and somatic informed expertise. My love of movement and physical expression informs my knowledge of the connection between body, mind and well-being. This experience deeply influences my work as a therapist and allows me to offer clients:
- unique strategies for dealing with physical discomfort related to emotional stress and/or anxiety
- an experiential understanding of physical and mindfulness practices that enhance well being