I approach therapeutic work from a curious, creative, and collaborative perspective that considers your whole being. I am primarily informed by Jungian-Depth Psychology and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (a body- centered talk therapy). Both modalities offer insight and new tools for perceiving the ways in which conscious as well as unconscious thoughts, feelings, and behaviors impact our choices, confidence, and quality of our interpersonal relationships in a non-pathologizing way.
Ultimately, I am most informed by meeting you where you are and working to together to identify how best to embolden your innate capacity to thrive.
Prior to receiving my graduate training in counseling psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute I worked over 15 years as a visual artist and arts educator with at risk youth, adolescents, and adults.
My foundation and undergraduate training in visual arts and art history inspired me to explore more in depth the ways in which individuals and societies symbolically express archetypal themes; like birth, love, loss, faith, and reliance on nature and what one another to make meaning from their lived experience.
My experience taught me that the creative process often begins with an idea or expectation of what one wants to see, but often struggles to render. By working the image with curiosity in a step-by-step way an interactive dialogue with the image or vision can emerge. What does it need? What is it showing me? How can I value trying new things and learn from my mistakes? Can I integrate this element into the overall image and trust my intuition when it feels right?
Undertaking therapy is a similar creative process that invites self discovery, making new meaning out of old challenges, and developing enhanced self confidence through care and attention to what is seeking to transform.
Following my graduate studies, I received two years of additional training at the C.G. Jung Insititute of Los Angeles where I learned to work clinically with client’s dreams, elements of the shadow and archetypes, alternative modalities like Sandplay, and Active Imagination to enhance self exploration and expand the therapeutic process. I also received Level 2 certification in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy which is a somatic approach to Trauma Recovery. My training in Substance Abuse and Recovery informs my work with family members or partners that have been impacted by someone struggling with addiction as well as those suffering from addiction. I continue learning and developing my therapeutic while doing my own therapeutic work.
My ongoing therapeutic work and deep love for learning inspires me to be a better human and practitioner. I am a social justice, equity, diversity and LGBTQ ally. I love traveling new places, making things with my hands, singing, hiking, meditating, discovering new recipes, spending time with family and friends and I look forward to working with you.