Bachelor of Science, Applied Developmental Psychology
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA
Master of Arts, Professional Counseling, Clinical Mental Health
Texas State University, San Marcos, TX
Welcome and thank you for your interest in Whole Body Psychotherapy! I specialize in working with adults on many wide-ranging life issues. Whether you've been in counseling before, or are exploring this type of support for the first time, I hope you find this site helpful in deciding if my approach could be a good fit for your needs.
I discovered my passion for counseling while volunteering my time supporting adults who were struggling to overcome poverty and other significant hardships. Quite often, a common thread between them was a childhood wrought with difficult circumstances where physical and/or emotional needs were neglected by parents or caregivers, and, worse yet, used as a focus of abuse. After completing my master's in clinical mental health counseling, I continued to support disadvantaged populations like these by providing therapeutic services for my local community mental health clinic. Building upon the foundation of my experiences, I became trained in several proven, evidenced-based, trauma-intensive modalities, such as EMDR/ART, Somatic Experiencing, and Internal Family Systems. Now in private practice, I specialize in helping people repair, heal, and move on from deeply rooted traumas and wounds of the past, which often interfere with living a balanced and fulfilling life.
I believe in a research-based, whole body approach to counseling which entails using both brain-based and body-based interventions in the therapeutic process. Brain-based techniques focus on thinking patterns (talk therapy) while body-based techniques focus on physical sensory information that is elicited in response to conditions inside and outside of us (experiential therapy). If you've been in counseling before and still struggle with unresolved issues, especially of a traumatic nature, or continue to experience distressing thoughts, emotions, memories, behaviors, or even unexplained physical symptoms, a more comprehensive and experiential approach like this may help.
The brain and body are connected through the autonomic nervous system and communicate through this information super highway. As such, thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and overall experiences are influenced by the delicate dance between the two. Working with the whole body helps to ensure cohesion with all parts of us and leads to more complete healing. My approach to counseling is structured and intentional, while still leaving room for the flexibility that is needed for the fluid nature of therapy. Counseling sessions incorporate talk therapy, body-centered techniques, and more intensive trauma-focused interventions (as needed). Sessions are focused on goal achievement and forward movement in many areas of life through learning, growth, stabilization, and personal empowerment..