My Approach
Psychoeducation
What if you better understood your mind and body? How bodily sensations are can be misinterpreted by the human brain? Why mammals in the wild do not have trauma? How many thoughts does the average person generate each day? (Answer: @ 60,000!) How few of those very thoughts are true!
A little bit of science can go a long way to reduce the self-blame that often comes with psychological distress. When psychoeducation is a part of your treatment, you learn how the different parts of your brain work, and how the brain and body can best work together to support an integrated YOU.
SE™ & Somatic EMDR
The primary goal of Somatic Experiencing™ is to guide a client's Autonomic Nervous System to more effectively regulate trauma-related responses to stress. SE™ is a bottom-up approach that gently redirects a clients attention from her ruminating thoughts towards her "felt sense". This gentle approach helps to release trauma stuck , without having retell/relive the details of the trauma.
As a client gains resiliency through SE™ (for more information go to https://traumahealing.org/) , we may decide to work more directly with specific trauma imprints. As a Certified Somatic EMDR Practitioner, I will incorporate the traditional EMDR protocol only when a client and I have attained a safe and mutual, therapeutic alliance.
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Expressive Arts Therapy
The Expressive Arts includes the visual arts, music, song, writing, drama, and movement. If you are interested, we may engage in any of the above creative approaches as ways of exploring and processing issues and strengths - even via Telehealth! I welcome both the professional creative and the curious novice.
The Expressive Arts can empower you to tap into the power of images, metaphors, movement, sound, role-playing, and writing as alternative modes of communication and expression. The imagination is the practice space for new patterns and possibilities. Allow me to be your guide?
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Crisis Stabilization & Support
Crisis Stabilization & Support protocol is designed to enable individuals and/or groups to safely move out of freeze or down-regulate after a sudden event with potential traumatic impact. Based on the scientific principles that underlie Somatic Experiencing™, CSS tools are designed to prevent trauma before it becomes "stuck" in the body.
This neurobiological first aid allows individuals to move out of the isolating state of being victims and to lean into perceiving oneself and others as "survivors". As individuals within an empathic community, we are better able to able to face reality, share resources, and build resiliency.