SOMATIC Psychotherapy

My approach is best described as integrative and body-centered; utilizing techniques from multiple therapeutic disciplines to develop a treatment plan that best suits your unique history and goals for the therapy.  A holistic approach allows the integration of the body-mind and the inner growth provides lasting change that is grounded and deeply understood on many levels.   A typical session with me could include an organic blend of the following:  a mindful approach to traditional talk therapy with cognitive behavior skill building; a focus on our therapy relationship as a mirror of unconscious relational dynamics emerging from early attachments in development; growing body-mind awareness as a tool to gain greater freedom from the physical impact of stress, trauma and overwhelm on the body, embodied, symbolic or non-verbal work using movement, gesture or Sandplay Therapy. 

Body-centered work is always your choice and is informed by a client's sense of safety and readiness.  I have found that a body-centered approach that is active and engaging allows clients take an active role in their own unfolding and promotes greater awareness and change.  By attending to the present moment experience mindfully, the past experiences in need of healing will present themselves to be held by the therapy.

child
​therapy

In my work with children, I bring an organic blend of talk therapy, play therapy, art and Sandplay therapy.  I have found that body based practices that engage the whole child are helpful to work with many of the challenges children face.  I incorporate Sandplay therapy to help children bridge their inner and outer experience as they often do have the words to express. 

Talk therapy is aimed to provide children with a toolbox of ways to learn about and regulate their emotions using Cognitive Behavioral strategies and tools from the Zones of Regulation Book and Social Learning concepts.

More about Sandplay Therapy
Developed in the 1950‘s by Swiss Jungian Psychotherapist Dora Kalff, Sandplay Therapy is an experiential form of counseling allowing the individual to participate in a non-verbal creative process.  By building scenes with miniature figures in a sandtray, the individual is able to bridge their inner and outer worlds and create an active expression for the implicitly held body memories and the unspeakable or the un-nameable inner emotional experiences that often have roots in early development.  Sandplay Therapy is useful for treating trauma at all ages, as well as providing a creative or “play” medium to integrate the emotional brain via the symbolic process.

Attachment Focused emdr

 Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a highly effective, evidence-based form of therapy used to treat trauma.  Research supports its effectiveness in working with PTSD as well as complex trauma from childhood that often manifests as depression, anxiety, phobias, low self-esteem and relationship difficulties.
"EMDR therapy incorporates eye movements or other bilateral stimulation into a comprehensive approach that processes and releases information trapped in the mind and body, freeing people from disturbing images and body sensations, debilitating emotions, and restrictive beliefs." L.Parnell.  
​My training is in Attachment-focused EMDR, developed by Dr. Laurel Parnell to incorporate an attachment-repair orientation to all phases of EMDR work. I have found it to be highly effective in addressing both recent and past traumas, treating issues ranging from childhood sexual abuse, anxiety and depression, and work related stressors.